Comparing two strings

similar.py

# Even spaces are compared!

my_string1 = "h4110 w0r1d"
my_string2 = "hello world"

def similar(my_string1, my_string2):
    a = b = c = d = []
    a.append(my_string1)
    b.append(my_string2)
    counter = 0

    try:
        for each in my_string1:
            if each.lower() == b[0][counter].lower():
                c.append(each)
            else:
                d.append(each)
            counter += 1
    except AttributeError:
        pass
    except IndexError:
        pass

    similar = len(c)
    starting = len(a)
    total = similar / starting
    print("There were {0} out of {1} similar characters.".format(int(total), len(my_string1)))
    if d:
        print("The following characters were not found in the second string:")
        print('"{0}"'.format(', '.join(d)))

similar(my_string1, my_string2)