<html>
<head>
<style>
.inlineblock {
display: inline-block;
background-color: green;
}
.child {
display: block;
margin: 1em;
background-color:yellow;
width:100px;
height:100px;
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span class="inlineblock"><span class="child"></span></span></p>