a = ["tim", "bob", "anna", "steve", "john"]
# sorts the list by the first letter of each name
b = sorted(a, key=lambda x : x[0])
# x = each of the values in the list a
# sorts the list by length FIRST, then alphabetical order SECOND
c = sorted(a, key=lambda x : (len(x), x))
sorted(student_tuples, key=lambda student: student[2])