Copy of letters or copies of letters

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What does cc mean?

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Hue asked, "What does cc (in email) stand for?"

Originally used in business letters, the abbreviation cc stands for carbon copy. Carbon paper was a kind of paper, covered with a dark ink on the back side, that could be used to make one or more additional copies of a letter or other document. These copies were called "carbon copies."

By inserting a sheet of carbon paper between two sheets of regular paper, and then writing or typing on the top sheet, a carbon copy would be made on the next sheet. At the bottom of a business letter, cc would be followed by the names of the people who were sent carbon copies of the original, so the recipients would know who else received it.

In the context of email, cc indicates the other recipients to whom the message was sent.

I hope this helps.

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Many times, in either a personal or business situation, you’ll need to write a letter to someone and also send a copy of it to another person. This is a relatively simple procedure when using electronic communications such as email, because you are able to send an email to all recipients at one time with just one click of the Send button. In the case where you are sending a hard-copy letter to someone, it’s a bit more challenging to send a copy to an additional recipient, because the process is not automated like it is with sending multiple copies of email messages and a few extra steps and considerations are required.

1. Include the CC Annotation

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Write the letter you want to send to the primary recipient and another person. Type "cc" and the name of the second person at the bottom of the letter below your name and signature. CCing someone in a letter is the conventional way of sending them a copy. The initials "cc" stand for "carbon copy" and are a holdover from the days when typists made copies of letters by using a sheet of carbon paper between two sheets of paper on a typewriter.

2. Make Two Copies

Make two copies of the original letter. Mail the original letter to the primary recipient. Make copies of the letter for every person who will added to the "cc" line. Save one copy of the letter for your personal files. Both the primary and secondary recipient will have the information you wrote in your letter and both will know that each received the letter.

3. Mail the Original Letter

Make one copy of the original letter you signed. You will use this copy of the letter to send to an additional recipient that you do not want the original recipient to be aware of. Mail the original letter to the primary recipient and the copy to the cc'ed recipient.

4. Use BCC for a Blind Copy

In carbon copy letter etiquette, you use the annotation "bcc" when you do not want the primary recipient to know that someone is receiving a copy of his letter. The initials "bcc" stand for "blind carbon copy." Attach a compliments slip to a copy of the original letter with the bcc annotation. Mail this to the second recipient after making a copy for your personal file. He or she will receive the copy letter in secret.

Things You Will Need

  • Stationery

  • Mailing addresses for all recipients

  • Envelopes

  • Postage

Tip

If you are writing a letter of complaint to or about a business, it may be helpful to send a copy to your local Better Business Bureau. Your complaint may be taken more seriously.

Warning

Depending upon the situation, it could either be helpful or troublesome to use "cc" or "bcc." Consider carefully whether you want both parties to be aware of the information in your letter and whether you want the primary recipient to be aware that the letter you sent to him is being shared with another party.

Well, according to my high school secretarial course BEFORE there were computers, no. That is, you typed the letter with multiple actual CARBON PAPERS to make the CARBON COPIES which the cc STILL stands for even though nobody under 30 really knows what carbon paper is. The carbon copies were sent unsigned. In those dark days, if you had multiple addressees, you put signatures only on the copies to be treated as originals so you didn't have to type the same original multiple times.

These days we generally print one copy and sign it and the xerox that original to create the cc copies, so they usually go out signed but it is not an original signature.

Clear as mud, huh?

This is, strictly speaking, an ettiquette question, not a language question, so I'll turn to the expert:

"Miss Manners votes for the blank signature space...In addition, she suggests circling the recipient's name on the 'cc' list in ink. Let us retain this quaint abbreviation even though these are no longer carbon copies."

--Judith Martin, "Miss Manners' Guide for the Turn-of-the-Millenium"

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I need to CC two people on a letter I am writing. What is the correct method?

Which is correct copy or copies?

The plural form of copy; more than one (kind of) copy. I need 100 copies of the form.

Is copies plural or singular?

copy ​Definitions and Synonyms ​‌‌‌.

What does it mean to copy a letter to someone?

CCing someone in a letter is the conventional way of sending them a copy. The initials "cc" stand for "carbon copy" and are a holdover from the days when typists made copies of letters by using a sheet of carbon paper between two sheets of paper on a typewriter.

Is it cc or cc in a letter?

At the bottom of a business letter, cc would be followed by the names of the people who were sent carbon copies of the original, so the recipients would know who else received it. In the context of email, cc indicates the other recipients to whom the message was sent. I hope this helps.