def string_check(question, valid_ans_list): while True: response = input(question).lower() for item in valid_ans_list: if response == item: return item elif response == item[:num_letters]: return item print(f"Please choose an option from {valid_ans_list}") levels = ['easy', 'med', 'hard'] like_coffee = string_check(question="Do you like coffee? ", valid_ans_list=['yes', 'no']) choose_level = string_check("choose a level: ",levels) print(f"you chose {choose_level}")