def _check_condition(cond_string, target_string):
    """ Checks whether cond_string is at the beginning of target_string, or
        whether cond_string is within target_string, preceded by whitespace.

        Returns boolean indicating the result of the check-up;
    """
    return target_string.startswith(cond_string
        ) or ' ' + cond_string in target_string
