What about something like this: $pos = (strpos(' ', $string, 76))?strpos(' ',$string, 76):strlen($string); Thanks, Ash http://www.ashleysheridan.co.uk ----- Reply message ----- From: "Ron Piggott" <ron.piggott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Sun, Nov 14, 2010 20:48 Subject: [PHP] Re: String manipulation To: <php-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> How would I write an IF statement that looks for the first space space (â â) left of the 76th character in a string or <br>, which ever comes first --- OR the end of the string (IE the string is less than 76 characters long? I specifically want is itâs character position in the string. Ron The Verse of the Day âEncouragement from Godâs Wordâ http://www.TheVerseOfTheDay.info