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Constructing => General Discussion => Topic started by: cranberry44 on July 24, 2022, 01:16:16 PM

Title: Word length max for fill-in blanks in clues?
Post by: cranberry44 on July 24, 2022, 01:16:16 PM

Can I use as a clue "Des ___, Iowa"? or "___ Farm & Fleet"? That is, is a six-letter entry in this kind of clue OK? That is, "Moines" and "Blains." I know 5 letters is the limit for blanks in oft-used phrases but what about the limit, if any, for proper nouns and the like?

Title: Re: Word length max for fill-in blanks in clues?
Post by: mmcbs on July 24, 2022, 01:49:50 PM

The five-letter limit for FITB applies only to what is known as a partial phrase, which is a confusing term. What is means is that the blank is filled with MORE THAN one word (Busy ___ bee) = AS A.

There is no limit to the length of a word that is clued with a FITB. "Minneapolis, ___" would be an OK clue for MINNESOTA.

Title: Re: Word length max for fill-in blanks in clues?
Post by: cranberry44 on July 25, 2022, 07:08:02 AM

Thanks. And thanks for the additional info re: partial fill. I never quite got what the NYT meant by that. I'm surprised about putting
such a long word like "Minnesota" in a blank. I didn't know that was OK.

Title: Re: Word length max for fill-in blanks in clues?
Post by: watercressjog on October 15, 2023, 09:56:40 PM

It all comes down to the editorial vision of phrazle (https://phrazle.co) the crossword problem's creator and the medium in which the puzzle will be shown.