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"cc" on a letter means carbon copy: everyone named on the cc line also received the letter. "Enclosures" (or "Encl.") lists the extra documents tucked into the envelope along with the letter. Both notations go below the signature block, and both exist so nobody has to guess who else saw the letter or what came with it.
| Notation | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cc: | Carbon copy. These people also received a copy of the letter. | cc: Dana Whitfield, Human Resources |
| bcc: | Blind carbon copy. These people got a copy, but the main recipient can't see their names. | bcc: Legal department |
| Enclosures: | Extra documents included in the same envelope. | Enclosures: Signed lease agreement, move-in checklist |
| Encl. (2) | Short form, with a count of enclosed items. | Encl. (2) |
| Attachments: | Items physically fastened to the letter itself (stapled, paper-clipped). | Attachments: Receipt for the invoiced amount |
The cc line is a transparency tool. When a landlord writes "cc: Property management company" at the bottom of a notice, the tenant knows the company saw it too, which changes the letter's weight. It's also an accountability record: months later, the cc line proves who else was in the loop. Format it simply, "cc:" followed by names, one per line if there are several, with titles or companies after each name so it's clear who everyone is.
The name is a fossil: "cc" stands for "carbon copy," from the era when typists slipped carbon paper between sheets to make duplicates. Email borrowed the same term, which is why it feels familiar. The rarer "bcc" (blind carbon copy) exists in printed letters too, but it's awkward on paper: the main recipient's copy omits the bcc line entirely, so you'd need two versions of the letter. In practice, people just send a separate copy instead.
List what's actually in the envelope, by name: "Enclosures: Signed lease agreement, Move-in inspection checklist." If there are several items, count them: "Enclosures (3)" or "Encl. (3)". The golden rule is that the notation must match the envelope's contents exactly. Listing something you forgot to include is worse than listing nothing, because the recipient will assume you lost it, and omitting something you did include wastes the proof value: in a dispute, the enclosure line on your copy shows what you sent.
Place the enclosure line below the signature block, with the cc line below that. The standard stacking order is: signature block, then enclosures, then cc. Neither line is part of the letter's argument; they're metadata about the mailing, so they sit at the bottom where a reader can check them after reading.
An enclosure is a separate document in the same envelope: the lease, the photos, the invoice. An attachment is something physically fastened to the letter itself, like a stapled receipt or a paper-clipped business card. The distinction matters in formal writing because "enclosed please find" points to a separate sheet, while "attached" points to something fixed to the letter. In casual use people mix them freely, but legal and HR letters keep them straight: a mislabeled enclosure can confuse the record of what was sent.
One practical limit to know: services that print and mail letters for you, including LetterAgent, typically mail the letter alone, with no extra documents in the envelope. If your letter references enclosures, either send it yourself so you control what goes in the envelope, or fold the enclosure's content into the letter itself.
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