inquire () { echo -n "$1 [y/n]? " read answer finish="-1" while [ "$finish" = '-1' ] do finish="1" if [ "$answer" = '' ]; then answer="" else case $answer in y | Y | yes | YES ) answer="y";; n | N | no | NO ) answer="n";; *) finish="-1"; echo -n 'Invalid response -- please reenter:'; read answer;; esac fi done } ... other stuff inquire "Install now?" ...