def func(list1): list2 = [] list3 =[] for i in list1: str1 = i.lstrip() str2 =str1.rstrip() list2.append(str2) for i in list2: if (i.startswith('r') or i.startswith('R')) and i.endswith('x'): list3.append(i) print(list3) list1 = [" Llez", " rlsx ", " Rwex ", " rlbz "] func(list1)