I was wondering if there is some css/js magic that can prevent text from splitting vertically in the middle of a line. I’m using overflow:hidden in the below example. The text is not static … it is rich-text entered by a user so I do not have control over the formatting.

i would like it to look like this:

Here’s a possible example solution:
via http://davidwalsh.name/css-ellipsis
Solution example: http://jsfiddle.net/4Fpq2/
This should at least provide a starting point.
Also, here are some additional possible solutions: