How to trim n characters from right end of a string?

[Paul McGuire]

"Robert" <nospam at nospam.net> wrote in message
news:GUnDc.13670$OX2.9785 at fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Please tell this newbie how to remove n characters from the right end of a
> string.
>
> Thanks, Robert
>
>
At the Python '>>>' prompt:

>>> a = "This is a string."
>>> print a[:-5]
This is a st