a custom breadcrumb function for wordpress

wp-breadcrumbs.php

<?php

function the_breadcrumb()
{
    global $post;
    $returnHTMLString = '';
    $postTitle = strtoupper(get_the_title());
    $space = str_repeat('&nbsp;', 3);
    $parent_title = strtoupper(get_the_title($post->post_parent));
    $parent_title = str_replace(" ▾","" , $parent_title);
    if (!is_home()) {
        $returnHTMLString .= '<a href="';
        $returnHTMLString .= get_option('home');
        $returnHTMLString .= '">';
        $returnHTMLString .= "HOME";
        $returnHTMLString .= "</a><span>" . $space . " ▹ " . $space;
        if (is_category() || is_single() || is_page()) {
            if ($postTitle != $parent_title) {
                $returnHTMLString .= $parent_title . $space . " ▹ " . $space;
                $returnHTMLString .= $postTitle . "</span>";
            } else {
                $returnHTMLString .= $postTitle . "</span>";
            }
        }
    }
    return $returnHTMLString;
}