diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index dd41be1e..22f6e2e3 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@
     - Added `shortenLeft` function, like existing `shorten` but shortens by
       truncating from left instead of right. Useful for showing directories.
 
+    - Added `shorten'` and `shortenLeft'` functions with customizable overflow
+      markers.
+
     - Added `filterOutWsPP` for filtering out certain workspaces from being
       displayed.
 
@@ -309,7 +312,7 @@
 
   * `XMonad.Util.DebugWindow`
     Fixed a bottom in `debugWindow` when used on windows with UTF8 encoded titles.
-    
+
   * `XMonad.Config.Xfce`
     Set `terminal` to `xfce4-terminal`.
 
diff --git a/XMonad/Hooks/DynamicLog.hs b/XMonad/Hooks/DynamicLog.hs
index 40c7ebbf..5ccc3061 100644
--- a/XMonad/Hooks/DynamicLog.hs
+++ b/XMonad/Hooks/DynamicLog.hs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ module XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog (
     dzenPP, xmobarPP, sjanssenPP, byorgeyPP,
 
     -- * Formatting utilities
-    wrap, pad, trim, shorten, shortenLeft,
+    wrap, pad, trim, shorten, shorten', shortenLeft, shortenLeft',
     xmobarColor, xmobarAction, xmobarBorder,
     xmobarRaw, xmobarStrip, xmobarStripTags,
     dzenColor, dzenEscape, dzenStrip, filterOutWsPP,
@@ -386,18 +386,22 @@ trim = f . f
 
 -- | Limit a string to a certain length, adding "..." if truncated.
 shorten :: Int -> String -> String
-shorten n xs | length xs < n = xs
-             | otherwise     = take (n - length end) xs ++ end
- where
-    end = "..."
+shorten = shorten' "..."
+
+-- | Limit a string to a certain length, adding @end@ if truncated.
+shorten' :: String -> Int -> String -> String
+shorten' end n xs | length xs < n = xs
+                  | otherwise     = take (n - length end) xs ++ end
 
 -- | Like 'shorten', but truncate from the left instead of right.
 shortenLeft :: Int -> String -> String
-shortenLeft n xs | l < n     = xs
-                 | otherwise = end ++ (drop (l - n + length end) xs)
- where
-    end = "..."
-    l = length xs
+shortenLeft = shortenLeft' "..."
+
+-- | Like 'shorten'', but truncate from the left instead of right.
+shortenLeft' :: String -> Int -> String -> String
+shortenLeft' end n xs | l < n     = xs
+                      | otherwise = end ++ (drop (l - n + length end) xs)
+ where l = length xs
 
 -- | Output a list of strings, ignoring empty ones and separating the
 --   rest with the given separator.