<?php

function excerpt($limit) {
    $excerpt = explode(' ', get_the_excerpt(), $limit);
    if (count($excerpt)>=$limit) {
        array_pop($excerpt);
        $excerpt = implode(" ",$excerpt).'';
      } else {
        $excerpt = implode(" ",$excerpt);
      } 
    $excerpt = preg_replace('`\[[^\]]*\]`','',$excerpt);
    return $excerpt;
    }
?>