Try to go in a completely different way about that and this code to your functions.php
// Variable excerpt length.
function dynamic_excerpt($length) { // Variable excerpt length. Length is set in characters
global $post;
$text = $post->post_excerpt;
if ( '' == $text ) {
$text = get_the_content('');
$text = apply_filters('the_content', $text);
$text = str_replace(']]>', ']]>', $text);
}
$text = strip_shortcodes($text); // optional, recommended
$text = strip_tags($text); // use ' $text = strip_tags($text,'<p><a>'); ' if you want to keep some tags
$text = mb_substr($text,0,$length).' ...';
echo $text; // Use this is if you want a unformatted text block
//echo apply_filters('the_excerpt',$text); // Use this if you want to keep line breaks
}
Now when ever you want an excerpt in your theme use this line:
<?php dynamic_excerpt(125); ?>
125 is the length of you characters in this case…
Since this uses “mb_substr” its also great when using hebrew / arabic / chinese or any other langaues which has its characters being count differently.. so.. all around the best solution.
Hope this helps…