def string_check(question, valid_ans_list=('yes', 'no'), num_letters=1): 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}") payment_asn = ('cash', 'credit') want_inst = string_check("Do you want to see the instructions? ") print(f"You chose {want_inst}") print() pay_method = string_check(question="Payment method: ", valid_ans_list=payment_asn, num_letters=2) print(f"You chose {pay_method}")