W3C CSS2 Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 - instructional media + ...

image margin
paragraph border
paragraph margin
paragraph padding
Some sample text in the first paragraph. It has a floating
image that was right about here (X) in the
source. However, the image is so large that
it extends below the text of this paragraph.
This paragraph has its ’clear’ propery set to ’left,’ so
that it will be forced to be below any left−floating images.
This is done by increasing its top margin.
Both paragraphs have set ’clear: left’, which causes the second paragraph to
be "pushed down" to a position below the float -- its top margin expands to
accomplish this (see the ’clear’ property).
9.5.1 Positioning the float: the ’float’ property
’float’
Value: left | right | none | inherit
Initial: none
Applies to: all but positioned elements and generated content
Inherited: no
Percentages: N/A
Media: visual
This property specifies whether a box should float to the left, right, or not at all.
It may be set for elements that generate boxes that are not absolutely positioned
[p. 113] . The values of this property have the following meanings:
left
The element generates a block [p. 97] box that is floated to the left. Content
flows on the right side of the box, starting at the top (subject to the ’clear’
property). The ’display’ is ignored, unless it has the value ’none’.
right
Same as ’left’, but content flows on the left side of the box, starting at the
top.
none
The box is not floated.
111