Question

nav ul {
}

nav ul li {
    margin-left: 7px;
}

nav.ul li a, a:link, a:visited {
    float: left;
    padding: 7px;
    margin-left: 15px;
    color: #ffffff;
    text-decoration: none;
    font-weight: bold;
}

nav ul li a:hover {
}

I only want the code above to style the elements within the <nav></nav>

Now however it does as well style the <a href=""> outside the nav element. How can I make sure it does what I want?

Answer 1

The rules as you have them, will only apply within a nav element, except this:

nav.ul li a, a:link, a:visited {

This rule applies to a:link and a:visited. You want this:

nav.ul li a, nav.ul li a:link, nav.ul li a:visited {