Filter out element and add style
<html> <head> <script type='text/javascript' src='js/jquery-1.3.2.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> $(document).ready( function() { $('li') .filter('.my3') .addClass('tmpSelected'); } ); </script> <style type='text/css'> ul { list-style: none; margin: 5px; padding: 0; } li.tmpSelected { background: #a1e6b2; border: 4px solid #93daa4; } </style> </head> <body> <ul> <li class='my'>A</li> <li class='my2'>B</li> <li class='my'>C</li> <li class='my2'>D</li> <li class='my3'>E</li> </ul> </body> </html>