Is Cc: Enough to notify senders that you are forwarding their email?
What is proper Email Etiquette when forwarding personal emails sent to you to a third party? Is it okay to simply Cc: the Sender to let them know you are sharing their communication?
No, it is not. By taking this approach, you have breached your contact’s trust.
Always assume the Sender intended that email for your eyes only. Unless otherwise stated, all email communications should be considered private and confidential among the original participants.
Always Ask Before Forwarding
Whether it be a business or personal email, common courtesy dictates that you do not forward emails sent to you to others without the original Sender’s knowledge. That said, we all know people who do this every day.
And as I am sure you can agree, it is rarely for positive reasons. Usually, it’s to make fun of, e-tattle, or just plain gossip. For those who do this, this practice may come back to haunt them one day. You do it to others; they do the same to you.
What many do not realize is that all emails are automatically protected by copyright. So, to forward an email you received to someone else, you should first get the sender’s permission.
Cc’ing doesn’t negate your responsibility to ask for permission. Notifying the Sender as you forward their email does not replace asking before you take action. The Sender may not want their words to you published to others. That is their choice to make — not yours.
Respect Others’ Privacy at All Times
Emails are sent and written to the party for which they were intended. Not to be forwarded to others without the Sender’s knowledge or permission.
By Cc’ing without asking, you risk the Sender’s wrath, as they may not have wanted the content shared. Even if you feel there is nothing personal or that the email is about a “common subject,” that is subjective, depending on each person’s definition of what counts as common.
Show that you get it and aren’t a sneaky gossiper. Always ask first before sharing any email you receive.
