CSS inline/block issue

Question

I am having trouble with css inline/block when using a <span> tag.

As you can see from the images, when you hover over the third message the Delete/Reply controls pop up, I do not wish for them to push the content down. How can I accomplish this?

This is my css code:

ul.inbox {
    width: 100%;
    list-style-type: none;
}

.unread {
    border: 1px solid #999 !important;
    background: #eee url("new.png") no-repeat !important;
    background-position: left center !important;
}

li span.hidden {
    clear: both;
    visibility: hidden;
}

li span.messageControls {
    clear: both;
    float: right;
    display: inline;
}

li span.messageControls a {
    padding: 5px 5px 0 0;
    font-size: 12px;
    color: #06c;
}

li.message {
    background: #eee;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    list-style-type: none;
    display: block;
    margin: 0 0 10px;
    padding-left: 30px;
    background-position: left center;
}

li.message:hover {

}

li.message a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

li {
    overflow: hidden;
}

li span.from {
    margin: 5px 0 5px 5px;
    font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;
    font-size: 14px;
    color: #666;
    float: left;
    font-weight: 700;
}

li span.date {
    margin: 5px 5px 5px 0;
    font-size: 12px;
    float: right;
    color: #06c;
}

li p.subject {
    margin: 5px 0 5px 5px;
    font-size: 14px;
    color: #666;
    clear: both;
    font-weight: 700;
}

li p.preview {
    margin: 5px 0 5px 5px;
    font-size: 12px;
    color: #999;
}

And my 'inbox' code:

<ul class="inbox">
    <li id="1001843" class="message " onmouseout="document.getElementById('1001843MC').className='hidden'" onmouseover="document.getElementById('1001843MC').className='messageControls'" onclick="ajaxMessage(1001843);">
        <span class="from">Michael‌·Norris</span> <span class="date">Yesterday‌·21:18</span> <span id="1001843MC" class="hidden"><a href="compose.php?id=&to=">Reply</a> &nbsp; <a href="update.php?id=&action">Delete</a></span>

        <p class="subject">gjhgjhg</p>

        <p class="preview">jhgjhgjhg</p>
    </li>

    <li id="1001842" class="message " onmouseout="document.getElementById('1001842MC').className='hidden'" onmouseover="document.getElementById('1001842MC').className='messageControls'" onclick="ajaxMessage(1001842);">
        <span class="from">Michael‌·Norris</span> <span class="date">Yesterday‌·21:18</span> <span id="1001842MC" class="hidden"><a href="compose.php?id=&to=">Reply</a> &nbsp; <a href="update.php?id=&action">Delete</a></span>

        <p class="subject">gfhjgjfdhsgf</p>

        <p class="preview">gj‌·hg</p>
    </li>

    <li id="1001841" class="message " onmouseout="document.getElementById('1001841MC').className='hidden'" onmouseover="document.getElementById('1001841MC').className='messageControls'" onclick="ajaxMessage(1001841);">
        <span class="from">Michael‌·Norris</span> <span class="date">Yesterday‌·20:17</span> <span id="1001841MC" class="hidden"><a href="compose.php?id=&to=">Reply</a> &nbsp; <a href="update.php?id=&action">Delete</a></span>

        <p class="subject">gjhgjhg</p>

        <p class="preview">jhgjhgjhg</p>
    </li>
</ul>

Fiddle here: http://jsfiddle.net/Er73L/

Answer 1

another option is to absolutely position the span elements,. just add this line to the bottom of your css and tweak it as needed...

.messageControls{width:100px;border:1px solid red;position:absolute;right:0;margin-top:20px;}

http://jsfiddle.net/nYCsx/1/

Answer 2

You need to set the clear properties correctly to achieve the behavior you want, and not just use clear: both blindly.

I did two changes to your CSS:

li span.messageControls {
    clear: right; /* was clear: both; */
    float: right;
    display: block; /* was display: inline */
}

li p.subject {
    margin: 5px 0 5px 5px;
    font-size: 14px;
    color: #666;
    clear: left; /* was clear: both; */
    font-weight: 700;
}

Here's a working example. I also recommend you read up on the documentation.

Answer 3

Simple fix, just use clear:left instead of clear:both like this:

li p.subject {
    margin: 5px 0 5px 5px;
    font-size: 14px;
    color: #666;
    clear:left;
    font-weight: 700;
}

Fiddle

Answer 4

Here's how I propose you fix this: http://jsfiddle.net/Er73L/1/

Here's the diff compared to your original CSS: http://www.diffchecker.com/3tKbEnCe

li span.messageControls {
    position: absolute;
    right: 0;
    top: 1em;
}

li.message {
    background: #eee;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    list-style-type: none;
    display: block;
    margin: 0 0 10px;
    padding-left: 30px;
    background-position: left center;
    position: relative;  // NEW LINE
}