<%= message.content %>

truncate("Once upon a time in a world far far away", :length => 17, :separator => ' ')
# => "Once upon a..."

class String
  def words_limit(limit)
    string_arr = self.split(' ')
    string_arr.count > limit ? "#{string_arr[0..(limit-1)].join(' ')}..." : self
  end
end
text = "aa bb cc dd ee ff"
p text.words_limit(3)
# => aa bb cc...

# Message helper
   def content_excerpt(c)
     return unlessc
     c.split(" ")[0..4].join + "..."
   end

   # View
   <%= message.content_excerpt %>

# Message helper
   def content_excerpt(c)
     return unless c
     truncate(c, :length => 20)
   end