trimText.js

// Trim text.
/*
	- Respects word boundaries by default (will not chop a word up to create ellipses by default).
	- Allows for ellipses or no ellipses.
*/

	function trimText( jquery_obj_to_trim, int_trim_length, bool_ellipses, bool_respect_word_boundaries ){
		
		var ellipses;
		if( typeof bool_ellipses === "undefined" ){
			ellipses = true; // ellipses enabled by default.
		} else {
			ellipses = bool_ellipses;
		}
		
		var wordBoundaries;
		if( typeof bool_respect_word_boundaries === "undefined" ){
			wordBoundaries = true;
		} else {
			wordBoundaries = bool_respect_word_boundaries;
		}
		
		var currentText = jquery_obj_to_trim.eq(0).html();
		var newLength = int_trim_length;
		var currentTextTrimmed = currentText.substr(0, newLength);
		var endOfCurrentText = /\W?\s?\b\w+\W*?$/.exec( currentTextTrimmed );
		if( endOfCurrentText === null ) return;
		var endOfCurrentTextLength = endOfCurrentText[0].length;
		currentTextTrimmed = currentText.substr(0, newLength - ( wordBoundaries ? endOfCurrentTextLength : 0 ) );
		var newText = currentTextTrimmed + ( bool_ellipses ? "..." : "" );
		jquery_obj_to_trim.eq(0).html( newText );
	}

//Example usage

	trimText( $(".hero-news p:first") , 180 ); // Do not pass in multiple elements via your jQuery object.
	$(".hero-news p").not(":first").remove(); // Remove subsequent p's after the trimmed first one.