class Solution:
def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
m, n = len(word1), len(word2)
i = j = 0
ans = list()
while i < m or j < n:
if i < m:
ans.append(word1[i])
i += 1
if j < n:
ans.append(word2[j])
j += 1
return "".join(ans)