public function get_short_question_name($stringtoshorten, $characterlimit)
    {
        if (!empty($stringtoshorten)) {
            $returnstring = format_string($stringtoshorten);
            if (strlen($returnstring) > $characterlimit) {
                $returnstring = shorten_text($returnstring, $characterlimit, true);
            }
            return $returnstring;
        } else {
            return '';
        }
    }