function abbreviate() {
   var maxLength = 10;
   var elements = document.getElementsByClassName('abbreviate', document);
   for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; i++) {
      var str = elements[i].firstChild.nodeValue;
      if (str.length > maxLength) {
         elements[i].innerHTML = str.substring(0, maxLength) + "...";
         }
      }
}