# Functions go here
def string_check(question, valid_ans_list):
    """Checks that users enter the full word or the first letter of a word from a list of valid responses"""

    while True:

        response = input(question).lower()

        for item in valid_ans_list:
            if response == item:
                return item

        # check if it's the first letter
    elif response == item[0]:
        return item


# Main routine goes here