Word length max for fill-in blanks in clues?

[cranberry44]

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?

[mmcbs]

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.

[cranberry44]

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.

[watercressjog]

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