diff --git a/spec.txt b/spec.txt
@@ -4117,10 +4117,13 @@ the following principles resolve ambiguity:
12. An interpretation `<strong><em>...</em></strong>` is always
preferred to `<em><strong>..</strong></em>`.
-13. When two potential emphasis or strong emphasis spans overlap,
- the first takes precedence. Thus, for example, `*foo _bar* baz_`
+13. Earlier closings are preferred to later closings. Thus,
+ when two potential emphasis or strong emphasis spans overlap,
+ the first takes precedence: for example, `*foo _bar* baz_`
is parsed as `<em>foo _bar</em> baz_` rather than
- `*foo <em>bar* baz</em>`.
+ `*foo <em>bar* baz</em>`. For the same reason,
+ `**foo*bar**` is parsed as `<em><em>foo</em>bar</em>*`
+ rather than `<strong>foo*bar</strong>`.
14. Inline code spans, links, images, and HTML tags group more tightly
than emphasis. So, when there is a choice between an interpretation
@@ -4707,15 +4710,6 @@ We retain symmetry in these cases:
<p><em><em>foo</em> bar</em></p>
.
-Note that this is not a case of strong emphasis,
-since the interior `*` closes regular emphasis:
-
-.
-**foo bar* baz**
-.
-<p><em><em>foo bar</em> baz</em>*</p>
-.
-
More cases with mismatched delimiters:
.
@@ -4748,7 +4742,7 @@ More cases with mismatched delimiters:
<p>***foo <em>bar</em></p>
.
-The following case illustrates rule 13:
+The following cases illustrate rule 13:
.
*foo _bar* baz_
@@ -4756,6 +4750,12 @@ The following case illustrates rule 13:
<p><em>foo _bar</em> baz_</p>
.
+.
+**foo bar* baz**
+.
+<p><em><em>foo bar</em> baz</em>*</p>
+.
+
The following cases illustrate rule 14:
.