public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("What shape would you like to find the area of?"); Scanner myScanner = new Scanner(System.in); String shapeName; while (true) { // ask until good shapeName = myScanner.next(); if (shapeName.equals("rectangle") || shapeName.equals("triangle") || shapeName.equals("circle")) { break; } else { System.out.println("Please input a shape. (triangle, rectangle, or circle)"); } } decideOnShape(shapeName); }