diff --git a/xep-0393.xml b/xep-0393.xml
index 5344cb3c..191b1391 100644
--- a/xep-0393.xml
+++ b/xep-0393.xml
@@ -381,9 +381,10 @@
   <section2 topic='Spans' anchor='span'>
     <p>
       Matches of spans between two styling directives MUST contain some text
-      between the two styling directives and the opening styling directive
-      MUST be located at the beginning of the line, after a whitespace
-      character, or after a different opening styling directive.
+      between the two styling directives, otherwise neither directive is valid.
+      The opening styling directive MUST be located at the beginning of the
+      line, after a whitespace character, or after a different opening styling
+      directive.
       The opening styling directive MUST NOT be followed by a whitespace
       character and the closing styling directive MUST NOT be preceeded by a
       whitespace character.
@@ -413,6 +414,7 @@
       <li>*not \n strong*</li>
       <li>*not *strong</li>
       <li>**</li>
+      <li>***</li>
       <li>****</li>
     </ul>
     <section3 topic='Plain' anchor='plain'>