On October 12th, I answered a question about the meaning of the abbreviation cc. This abbreviation, which stands for carbon copy, is used in email headers to show other people that the message is being sent to, in addition to the main recipient. (For more information about carbon copies, please see the October 12th Ask the Editor post.)
Allyn, from the Philippines, has sent in a follow-up question about the meaning of bcc, which is another abbreviation used in email headers.
Like cc, the abbreviation bcc comes originally from business letters typed on paper. It stands for blind carbon copy, and it is used to indicate people who will receive copies of the message in secret, or without the knowledge of the other recipients.
In the sample header below, the email is going from me, Jane Mairs, to Alex Williams, the main recipient. Jenny Bixby and Joe McVeigh are listed in the cc line and will also receive copies. Bernard Seal, whose name appears in the bcc line, will receive a copy, too, but none of the others will know it.
