<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ var newText = $("p").text().split(" ").join("</div> <div>"); $("p").html(newText).find(":contains('a')") .css({"font-style":"italic"}); }); </script> <style> .y { background:yellow; } </style> </head> <body> <body> <p>a ab abc</p> </body> </html>