Smart date formatting - e.g. "27 minutes" "4 hours" "3 days, 15h" "4 months, 9d"

application_helper.rb

def duration(from, to=Time.now)
  if to - from < 1.day
    distance_of_time_in_words(from,to,false,:precision=>1)
  else
    return distance_of_time_in_words(from,to,false,:precision=>2, :two_words_connector=>'@')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\sseconds?/, ', \\1s')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\sminutes?/, ', \\1m')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\shours?/, ', \\1h')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\sdays?/, ', \\1d')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\sweeks?/, ', \\1w')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\smonths?/, ', \\1m')
    .gsub(/@(\d+)\syears?/, ', \\1y')
    .gsub(' ', '&nbsp;')
    .html_safe
  end
end