Limit the content length and retain markup

return-trim-the-content.php

<?php
/**
 * Limit the content length.
 *
 * @author JC Palmes
 *
 * @param array $args Parameters include length and more.
 *
 * @return string The content.
 */
function return_the_content( $args = [] ) {

	// Set defaults.
	$defaults = [
		'content' => '',
		'char'    => 500, // number of characters.
		'more'    => ' &hellip;'
	];

	// Parse args.
	$args = wp_parse_args( $args, $defaults );

	// Trim the content.
	return substr( $args['content'], 0, $args['char'] ) . $args['more'];
}