docs: def word_slice(ctx, text, start, stop=0, by_spaces=False):
      """
      Extracts a substring spanning from start up to but not-including stop
      """
      text = conversions.to_string(text, ctx)
      start = conversions.to_integer(start, ctx)
      stop = conversions.to_integer(stop, ctx)
      by_spaces = conversions.to_boolean(by_spaces, ctx)
  
      if start == 0:
          raise ValueError("Start word cannot be zero")
      elif start > 0:
          start -= 1  # convert to a zero-based offset
  
      if stop == 0:  # zero is treated as no end
          stop = None
      elif stop > 0:
          stop -= 1  # convert to a zero-based offset
  
      words = __get_words(text, by_spaces)
  
      selection = operator.getitem(words, slice(start, stop))
  
      # re-combine selected words with a single space
      return ' '.join(selection)