summarized results

I have a function loosely based on the following tutorial from zend.com. (http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/tutorial-brogdon2.php) However, instead of using plain-text I am using results with html tags. For example, the results may have <b>This</b>is some text that has been inputted from a form. When I use my function it simply takes this string and counts the number of words and then stops at a length desired and returns the text. Now, here is my problem. If I don't call my function it displays fine, but I have to display the entire result since I do not want to stop in the middle of a word. If I call my function it displays the summary correctly if there are no html tags in it. However, if I call my function and there are html tags then it strips the < > off of the html tag and displays the text in between the angle brackets. Here is my function (forgive me if I am taking the wrong way this is my baby step at php) If anybody has a better way I would appreciate it, Thank you, Erik Meyer