Limits the string based on the character count. Preserves complete words so the character count may not be exactly as specified.

CharacterLimiter.php

<?php
/**
 * Character Limiter
 *
 * Limits the string based on the character count.  Preserves complete words
 * so the character count may not be exactly as specified.
 *
 * @access  public
 * @param   string
 * @param   integer
 * @param   string  the end character. Usually an ellipsis
 * @return  string
 */
if ( ! function_exists('character_limiter'))
{
    function character_limiter($str, $n = 500, $end_char = '&#8230;')
    {
        if (strlen($str) < $n)
        {
            return $str;
        }

        $str = preg_replace("/\s+/", ' ', str_replace(array("\r\n", "\r", "\n"), ' ', $str));

        if (strlen($str) <= $n)
        {
            return $str;
        }

        $out = "";
        foreach (explode(' ', trim($str)) as $val)
        {
            $out .= $val.' ';

            if (strlen($out) >= $n)
            {
               $out = trim($out);
               return (strlen($out) == strlen($str)) ? $out : $out.$end_char;
            }
        }
    }
}