# 1768. Merge String Alternaly
#
# You are given two strings word1 and word2. Merge the strings by adding
# letters in alternating order, starting with word1.
# If a string is longer than the other, append the additional letters
# onto the end of the merged string.
#
# Return the merged string.

def mergeStringsAlternately(word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
    merged_string: str = ""
    for i in range(max(len(word1), len(word2))):
        if (i >= len(word1)):
            merged_string += word2[i:]
            break
        elif (i >= len(word2)):
            merged_string += word1[i:]
            break
        else:
            merged_string += word1[i]
            merged_string += word2[i]
    return merged_string