<!doctype html>
<head>
<style>
.box { border:1px solid black; padding:3px; margin:3px }
.nowrap { white-space: nowrap; }
.float { float: left; }
.box div { height:40px;  }
.float { width:100px; height:100px; background-color:cyan }
</style>
<body>

<div class="float"></div>

<div class="box"><a><div>Avoid the float!</div></a></div>