*`$length`, required. Parameter determines how many characters to truncate to.
*`$etc`, by default `...`. This is a text string that replaces the truncated text.
*`$by_word`, by default **FALSE**. This determines whether or not to truncate at a word boundary with TRUE, or at the exact character with FALSE.
*`$middle`, by default **FALSE**. This determines whether the truncation happens at the end of the string with FALSE, or in the middle of the string with TRUE.