2.2.3 [CSS-Level2-2009] Section 5.12.2, The :first-letter pseudo-element
C0003:
-
If an element is a list item ('display: list-item'), the ':first-letter' applies to the first letter in the principal box after the marker. UAs may ignore ':first- letter' on list items with 'list-style-position: inside'. If an element has ':before' or ':after' content, the ':first-letter applies to the first letter of the element including that content. E.g., after the rule 'p:before {content: "Note: "}', the selector 'p:first-letter' matches the "N" of "Note".
All Document Modes (All Versions)
The :first-letter pseudo-class is not ignored on list
items with list-style-position:inside.
C0004:
-
If the letters that would form the first-letter are not in the same element, such as "'T" in <p>'<em>T..., the UA may create a first-letter pseudo-element from one of the elements, both elements, or simply not create a pseudo-element.
Quirks Mode and IE7 Mode (All Versions)
The :first-letter pseudo-element is created from the first two elements. The following example results in "T", where the first quotation mark and the T are green:
<style type="text/css">
div:first-letter
{
color: green;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div>"<em>T</em>"</div>
</body>
IE8 Mode and IE9 Mode (All Versions)
The :first-letter pseudo-element is created only from the first element. The following example results in "T", where only the first quotation mark is green:
<style type="text/css">
div:first-letter
{
color: green;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div>"<em>T</em>"</div>
</body>
C0005:
-
Similarly, if the first letter(s) of the block are not at the start of the line (for example due to bidirectional reordering), then the UA need not create the pseudo-element(s).
All Document Modes (All Versions)
The :first-letter pseudo-element is created for right-to-left (RTL).