How about…
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 $excerpt;
}
function content($limit) {
$content = explode(' ', get_the_content(), $limit);
if (count($content) >= $limit) {
array_pop($content);
$content = implode(" ", $content) . '...';
} else {
$content = implode(" ", $content);
}
$content = preg_replace('/\[.+\]/','', $content);
$content = apply_filters('the_content', $content);
$content = str_replace(']]>', ']]>', $content);
return $content;
}
then in your template code you just use..
<?php echo excerpt(25); ?>
from: http://bavotasan.com/tutorials/limiting-the-number-of-words-in-your-excerpt-or-content-in-wordpress/