First, C-c is not Ctrl + c; second, it really helps to use compact notation when you read a lot of keybindings; and third, this is approximately the most minor complication in the learning curve of Emacs (otherwise nobody would learn vim, with its insane key mappings and invisible mode transitions).
Things like C-c C-v are chords. <Ctrl+c> and <Ctrl+v>.
I might be wrong, but I believe that the reason that parent commenter said that "C is not Ctrl" is due to the fact that you can map these keys to any where you want. Most emacs and lispers prefer to have C key bound to caps lock.
Yeah, but it's still a control key. I mean, xev literally registers "Control_L" when I press the key that is physically labeled "Caps Lock".
Discussions about terminology are totally secondary, and honestly, I was just trying to find a polite way to show that I don't want to get into an argument about terminology.
It's written in most emacs documentation as C-c for brevity.
Words once written don't need to be abbreviated. Abbrevation is only useful when writting for speed. When writting for being read don't use them.
I find it harder to scan my eyes over Ctrl+Alt+a than C-M-a (notice that Apple, too, uses single glyphs for modifier keys).