title: How to merge two strings in python?
body: <p>I need to merge strings together to create one string. For example the strings for "hello" that need to be combined are:
  [H----], [-E---], [--LL-], and [----O]</p>
  
  <p>This is the current code I have to make the letters appear in the first place.</p>
  
  <pre><code>display_string = "[" + "".join([x if x == letter else "-" for x in word]) + "]"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How would I go about making strings such as
  [H----], [HE---], [HELL-], and finally [HELLO]?</p>