Cc: carbon copy

Posted by Ken Ford on May 18, 2001

In Reply to: Cc: carbon copy posted by ESC on August 03, 2000

It's my impression that although cc: is now widely
regarded as meaning "carbon copy," it originally
meant simply the plural of "copy," i.e. "copies,"
analogous to p meaning "page" and pp meaning
"pages." If I am correct, the appropriate
indicator of a single copy would be c: [I once
had a secretary who insisted (until I worked
my will upon her) in using xc: for Xerox copy.]