' A child Inline element for the new Span element.
Dim runx1 As New Run("The Run element derives from Inline, and is therefore" & "an acceptable child element for this new Span.")

' After this line executes, the new element "spanx"
' contains the specified Inline element, "runx".
Dim spanx1 As New Span(runx1)

' A child Inline element for the new Span element.
Dim runx2 As New Run("The Run element derives from Inline, and is therefore" & "an acceptable child element for this new Span.")

' An empty paragraph will serve as the container for the new Span element.
Dim parx2 As New Paragraph()

' After this line executes, the new element "spanx"
' contains the specified Inline element, "runx".  Also, "spanx" is
' inserted at the point indicated by the insertionPosition parameter, 
' which in this case indicates the content start position in the Paragraph 
' element "parx".
Dim spanx2 As New Span(runx2, parx2.ContentStart)

' Create a paragraph and three text runs to serve as example content.  
Dim parx3 As New Paragraph()
Dim run1 As New Run("Text run 1.")
Dim run2 As New Run("Text run 2.")
Dim run3 As New Run("Text run 3.")

' Add the three text runs to the paragraph, separated by linebreaks.
parx3.Inlines.Add(run1)
parx3.Inlines.Add(New LineBreak())
parx3.Inlines.Add(run2)
parx3.Inlines.Add(New LineBreak())
parx3.Inlines.Add(run3)

' After this line executes, the selection of content
' indicated by the "start" and "end" parameters will be
' enclosed by the new Span.  In this case, the new Span
' will enclose the entire contents of the Paragraph "parx",
' which happens to contain three text runs and two linebreaks.               
Dim spanx As New Span(parx3.ContentStart, parx3.ContentEnd)

' Now, properties set on "spanx" will override default properties
' on elements contained by "spanx".  For example, setting 
' these arbitrary display properties on "spanx" will affect
' the child text runs enclosed by "spanx".
spanx.Foreground = Brushes.Blue
spanx.Background = Brushes.GhostWhite
spanx.FontFamily = New FontFamily("Century Gothic")

' Non-default property values override any settings on the 
' enclosing Span element.
run2.Foreground = Brushes.Red
run2.Background = Brushes.AntiqueWhite
run2.FontFamily = New FontFamily("Lucida Handwriting")