the "bc" and "cc" in a letter

[ErehtRaen]

What do they stand for?

Many thanks.
Raen

[Rusty]

What do they stand for?

Many thanks.
Raen
The terms come from the time when carbon copies of letters were made in typewriters. cc stands for carbon copy. bc stands for blind copy.
You will also see bcc, blind carbon copy.

[ErehtRaen]

Thank you very much Rusty.:)

Could you be kind enough to explain "blind" copy? why blind?

Thank so much
Raen

[Rusty]

Thank you very much Rusty.:)

Could you be kind enough to explain "blind" copy? why blind?

Thank so much
Raen
Let's say that the letter is addressed to Jack White and there are three carbon copies behind the letter.
Jack White gets the original letter.
John Brown gets the first carbon copy. Jack White knows that John Brown got a copy because, at the bottom of the letter is typed:
cc: John Brown

The typist then puts
"bcc: Jim Smith" on the second carbon copy. This carries through to the third copy.
The second carbon copy goes to Jim Smith, but neither Jack White nor John Brown knows that Jim Smith got a copy because bcc was not on their copies. This is called a blind copy.
The third copy goes to a file. The sender has a record of all copies.
cc: John Brown
bcc: Jim Smith

[ErehtRaen]

Thank you. It read like a plot unfolding, I enjoyed reading it. :)

Thanks
Raen

[Rusty]

Thank you. It read like a plot unfolding, I enjoyed reading it. :)

Thanks
Raen
To bring this up-to-date:
When you send an e-mail, cc recipients can see the names of other cc recipients, but can't see the names of bcc recipients. bcc recipients can't see each others' names. That's why it's called "blind."

[ErehtRaen]

Got it! Thank you.:)

Raen