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# 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.

# Example 1:

# Input: word1 = "abc", word2 = "pqr"
# Output: "apbqcr"
# Explanation: The merged string will be merged as so:
# word1:  a   b   c
# word2:    p   q   r
# merged: a p b q c r

# Example 2:

# Input: word1 = "ab", word2 = "pqrs"
# Output: "apbqrs"
# Explanation: Notice that as word2 is longer, "rs" is appended to the end.
# word1:  a   b 
# word2:    p   q   r   s
# merged: a p b q   r   s

# Example 3:

# Input: word1 = "abcd", word2 = "pq"
# Output: "apbqcd"
# Explanation: Notice that as word1 is longer, "cd" is appended to the end.
# word1:  a   b   c   d
# word2:    p   q 
# merged: a p b q c   d

class Solution:
    def mergeAlternately(word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
        result = []
        for i in range(min(len(word1), len(word2))):
            result.append(word1[i])
            result.append(word2[i])
    
        if len(word1) > len(word2):
            result.append(word1[i+1:])
        else:
            result.append(word2[i+1:])
    
        return ''.join(result)


print(Solution().mergeAlternately('abc', 'pqr'))