diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d868c00..9f50a3b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "asciidocr"
-version = "0.1.13"
+version = "0.1.14"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
 edition = "2024"
diff --git a/src/graph/inlines.rs b/src/graph/inlines.rs
index d7ff8af..ce7e3d7 100644
--- a/src/graph/inlines.rs
+++ b/src/graph/inlines.rs
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ impl Inline {
 
     pub fn extract_child_inlines(&mut self) -> VecDeque<Inline> {
         match &self {
-            Inline::InlineSpan(span) => span.inlines.clone().into(),
+            Inline::InlineSpan(span) => span.extract_span_inlines(),
             _ => todo!(),
         }
     }
@@ -385,14 +385,22 @@ impl InlineSpan {
     pub fn add_inline(&mut self, inline: Inline) {
         // update the locations
         self.location = Location::reconcile(self.location.clone(), inline.locations());
-        // combine literals if necessary
-        if matches!(inline, Inline::InlineLiteral(_)) {
-            if let Some(Inline::InlineLiteral(prior_literal)) = self.inlines.last_mut() {
-                prior_literal.add_text_from_inline_literal(inline);
-                return;
+        if let Some(Inline::InlineSpan(last_span)) = self.inlines.last_mut() {
+            if last_span.open {
+                last_span.add_inline(inline);
+            } else {
+                self.inlines.push(inline);
             }
+        } else {
+            // combine literals if necessary
+            if matches!(inline, Inline::InlineLiteral(_)) {
+                if let Some(Inline::InlineLiteral(prior_literal)) = self.inlines.last_mut() {
+                    prior_literal.add_text_from_inline_literal(inline);
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+            self.inlines.push(inline);
         }
-        self.inlines.push(inline);
     }
 
     fn new_footnote_ref(footnote_ref: InlineRef) -> Self {
@@ -406,6 +414,34 @@ impl InlineSpan {
         footnote
     }
 
+    // extracts the inlines inside the span, closing any open (dangling) spans that may be
+    // inside of it
+    fn extract_span_inlines(&self) -> VecDeque<Inline> {
+        let mut children = VecDeque::new();
+        for inline in self.inlines.iter() {
+            // handle any open spans
+            if inline.is_open() {
+                let mut working_inline = inline.clone();
+                let open_span_literal = working_inline.produce_literal_from_self();
+                let mut inline_children = working_inline.extract_child_inlines();
+                if let Some(inline) = inline_children.front_mut() {
+                    match inline {
+                        Inline::InlineLiteral(literal) => {
+                            literal.prepend_to_value(open_span_literal, literal.location.clone());
+                        }
+                        _ => todo!(),
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    todo!()
+                }
+                children.extend(inline_children);
+            } else {
+                children.push_back(inline.clone());
+            }
+        }
+        children
+    }
+
     /// Deconstructs a footnote span into the relevant footnote definition ID (to be applied to
     /// the leafblock that contains the footnote text), an InlineSpan `Sup<InlineRef>` that replaces the footnote
     /// with a link to said leafblock, and the vector of inlines that will be inserted into
diff --git a/src/parser.rs b/src/parser.rs
index 7917475..b4b4a51 100644
--- a/src/parser.rs
+++ b/src/parser.rs
@@ -832,6 +832,18 @@ impl Parser {
                 last_inline.close();
                 self.in_inline_span = false;
                 return Ok(());
+            } else if let Inline::InlineSpan(last_span) = last_inline {
+                if let Some(last_internal_inline) = last_span.inlines.last_mut() {
+                    if inline == *last_internal_inline {
+                        last_internal_inline.reconcile_locations(inline.locations());
+                        last_internal_inline.close();
+                    } else {
+                        last_span.add_inline(inline);
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    last_span.add_inline(inline);
+                }
+                return Ok(());
             }
         }
         // handle newline tokens prior to constrained spans
@@ -1291,26 +1303,28 @@ impl Parser {
                     _ => todo!(),
                 }
                 // put any appended inlines into the stack at the relevant position
-                for child_inline in children {
-                    self.inline_stack.insert(open_span_idx, child_inline)
+                while children.len() > 0 {
+                    if let Some(child) = children.pop_back() {
+                        self.inline_stack.insert(open_span_idx, child);
+                    }
                 }
 
                 // consolidate any resultant or remaining adjacent literals (this should be extracted to a function)
-                let mut temp_stack: VecDeque<Inline> = VecDeque::new();
-                let mut inline_stack_iter = self.inline_stack.iter_mut().peekable();
-                while inline_stack_iter.peek().is_some() {
-                    if let Some(current) = inline_stack_iter.next() {
-                        if let Inline::InlineLiteral(current_literal) = current {
-                            if let Some(Inline::InlineLiteral(next_literal)) =
-                                inline_stack_iter.next()
-                            {
-                                current_literal.combine_literals(next_literal.clone());
-                            }
+                let mut temp_stack: Vec<Inline> = vec![];
+                while let Some(mut inline) = self.inline_stack.pop_front() {
+                    if temp_stack.len() == 0 {
+                        temp_stack.push(inline);
+                    } else if inline.is_literal() {
+                        if let Some(Inline::InlineLiteral(last_in_stack)) = temp_stack.last_mut() {
+                            last_in_stack.combine_literals(inline.extract_literal());
+                        } else {
+                            temp_stack.push(inline);
                         }
-                        temp_stack.push_back(current.clone());
+                    } else {
+                        temp_stack.push(inline);
                     }
                 }
-                self.inline_stack = temp_stack;
+                self.inline_stack = temp_stack.into();
             } else {
                 // ... or if there are no children, add the token to the back of the last one; this
                 // is a little hacky, but it is cleaner compared to the rest of the code just to
diff --git a/src/scanner/mod.rs b/src/scanner/mod.rs
index bbd2100..c756673 100644
--- a/src/scanner/mod.rs
+++ b/src/scanner/mod.rs
@@ -715,21 +715,29 @@ impl<'a> Scanner<'a> {
         constrained: TokenType,
         unconstrained: TokenType,
     ) -> Result<Token, ScannerError> {
+        let inline_markup_chars = ['*', '_', '`', '+', '^', '~', '#'];
+        let mut end_of_inline_markers = vec![
+            ' ', '\0', '.', ',', ';', ':', '\n', ')', '"', '!', '?', '\'', ']', '…', '“', '”', '‘',
+            '’',
+        ];
+        let mut beginning_of_inline_markers = vec![' ', '\n', '\0', ']', '(', '"', '['];
+        end_of_inline_markers.extend_from_slice(&inline_markup_chars);
+        beginning_of_inline_markers.extend_from_slice(&inline_markup_chars);
         // guard clause against dangling markup
         if self.peek() == ' ' && self.peek_back() == ' ' {
             self.add_text_until_next_markup()
-        } else if [
-            ' ', '\0', '.', ',', ';', ':', '\n', ')', '"', '!', '?', '\'', ']', '…', '“', '”', '‘',
-            '’',
-        ]
-        .contains(&self.peek())
-            || [' ', '\n', '\0', ']', '(', '"', '['].contains(&self.peek_back()) && self.peek() != c
-        {
-            self.add_token(constrained, false, 0)
         } else if self.peek() == c {
-            // we've got an unconstrained version
+            // the next character is the same
+            // we've got an unconstrained (i.e., "**foo**bar") version
             self.current += 1;
             self.add_token(unconstrained, false, 0)
+        }
+        // we're at the end of a span, or are butted up against another inline marker
+        else if end_of_inline_markers.contains(&self.peek()) ||
+        // or we're at the beginning, or butted up against another inline marker
+        beginning_of_inline_markers.contains(&self.peek_back()) && self.peek() != c
+        {
+            self.add_token(constrained, false, 0)
         } else {
             self.add_text_until_next_markup()
         }
@@ -1282,6 +1290,48 @@ mod tests {
         scan_and_assert_eq(&markup, expected_tokens);
     }
 
+    #[rstest]
+    #[case('*', TokenType::Strong)]
+    #[case('`', TokenType::Monospace)]
+    #[case('+', TokenType::Literal)]
+    #[case('^', TokenType::Superscript)]
+    #[case('~', TokenType::Subscript)]
+    #[case('#', TokenType::Mark)]
+    fn inline_formatting_by_other(#[case] markup_char: char, #[case] expected_token: TokenType) {
+        let markup = format!("Somx {}_bar_{} bar.", markup_char, markup_char);
+        let expected_tokens = vec![
+            Token::new_default(
+                TokenType::Text,
+                "Somx ".to_string(),
+                Some("Somx ".to_string()),
+                1,
+                1,
+                5,
+            ),
+            Token::new_default(expected_token, markup_char.to_string(), None, 1, 6, 6),
+            Token::new_default(TokenType::Emphasis, "_".to_string(), None, 1, 7, 7),
+            Token::new_default(
+                TokenType::Text,
+                "bar".to_string(),
+                Some("bar".to_string()),
+                1,
+                8,
+                10,
+            ),
+            Token::new_default(TokenType::Emphasis, "_".to_string(), None, 1, 11, 11),
+            Token::new_default(expected_token, markup_char.to_string(), None, 1, 12, 12),
+            Token::new_default(
+                TokenType::Text,
+                " bar.".to_string(),
+                Some(" bar.".to_string()),
+                1,
+                13,
+                markup.len(),
+            ),
+        ];
+        scan_and_assert_eq(&markup, expected_tokens);
+    }
+
     #[rstest]
     #[case('*')]
     #[case('_')]
diff --git a/src/scanner/tokens.rs b/src/scanner/tokens.rs
index d8069bc..1057bc2 100644
--- a/src/scanner/tokens.rs
+++ b/src/scanner/tokens.rs
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ pub enum TokenType {
 
     // garden-variety text
     Hyperlink, // http://whatever.txt
-    Email, // cats@dogs.foo
+    Email,     // cats@dogs.foo
     Text,
 
     // character reference, such as "&mdash;"
diff --git a/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.adoc b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.adoc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc9cfa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.adoc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+*_This_ shouldn't be a problem!* 
diff --git a/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.json b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15ff2dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.json
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+{
+  "name": "document",
+  "type": "block",
+  "blocks": [
+    {
+      "name": "paragraph",
+      "type": "block",
+      "inlines": [
+        {
+          "name": "span",
+          "type": "inline",
+          "variant": "strong",
+          "form": "constrained",
+          "inlines": [
+            {
+              "name": "span",
+              "type": "inline",
+              "variant": "emphasis",
+              "form": "constrained",
+              "inlines": [
+                {
+                  "name": "text",
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "value": "This",
+                  "location": [
+                    {
+                      "line": 1,
+                      "col": 3
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "line": 1,
+                      "col": 6
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              ],
+              "location": [
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 2
+                },
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 7
+                }
+              ]
+            },
+            {
+              "name": "text",
+              "type": "string",
+              "value": " shouldn't be a problem!",
+              "location": [
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 8
+                },
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 31
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          ],
+          "location": [
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 1
+            },
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 32
+            }
+          ]
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "text",
+          "type": "string",
+          "value": " ",
+          "location": [
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 33
+            },
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 33
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "location": [
+        {
+          "line": 1,
+          "col": 1
+        },
+        {
+          "line": 1,
+          "col": 33
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ],
+  "location": [
+    {
+      "line": 1,
+      "col": 1
+    },
+    {
+      "line": 1,
+      "col": 33
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.adoc b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.adoc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51e1ae0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.adoc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+*_foo_*
+
+**_foo_**
+
+**__foo__**
diff --git a/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.json b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6e5f50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.json
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+{
+  "name": "document",
+  "type": "block",
+  "blocks": [
+    {
+      "name": "paragraph",
+      "type": "block",
+      "inlines": [
+        {
+          "name": "span",
+          "type": "inline",
+          "variant": "strong",
+          "form": "constrained",
+          "inlines": [
+            {
+              "name": "span",
+              "type": "inline",
+              "variant": "emphasis",
+              "form": "constrained",
+              "inlines": [
+                {
+                  "name": "text",
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "value": "foo",
+                  "location": [
+                    {
+                      "line": 1,
+                      "col": 3
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "line": 1,
+                      "col": 5
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              ],
+              "location": [
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 2
+                },
+                {
+                  "line": 1,
+                  "col": 6
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          ],
+          "location": [
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 1
+            },
+            {
+              "line": 1,
+              "col": 7
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "location": [
+        {
+          "line": 1,
+          "col": 1
+        },
+        {
+          "line": 1,
+          "col": 7
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "paragraph",
+      "type": "block",
+      "inlines": [
+        {
+          "name": "span",
+          "type": "inline",
+          "variant": "strong",
+          "form": "unconstrained",
+          "inlines": [
+            {
+              "name": "span",
+              "type": "inline",
+              "variant": "emphasis",
+              "form": "constrained",
+              "inlines": [
+                {
+                  "name": "text",
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "value": "foo",
+                  "location": [
+                    {
+                      "line": 3,
+                      "col": 4
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "line": 3,
+                      "col": 6
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              ],
+              "location": [
+                {
+                  "line": 3,
+                  "col": 3
+                },
+                {
+                  "line": 3,
+                  "col": 7
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          ],
+          "location": [
+            {
+              "line": 3,
+              "col": 1
+            },
+            {
+              "line": 3,
+              "col": 9
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "location": [
+        {
+          "line": 3,
+          "col": 1
+        },
+        {
+          "line": 3,
+          "col": 9
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "paragraph",
+      "type": "block",
+      "inlines": [
+        {
+          "name": "span",
+          "type": "inline",
+          "variant": "strong",
+          "form": "unconstrained",
+          "inlines": [
+            {
+              "name": "span",
+              "type": "inline",
+              "variant": "emphasis",
+              "form": "unconstrained",
+              "inlines": [
+                {
+                  "name": "text",
+                  "type": "string",
+                  "value": "foo",
+                  "location": [
+                    {
+                      "line": 5,
+                      "col": 5
+                    },
+                    {
+                      "line": 5,
+                      "col": 7
+                    }
+                  ]
+                }
+              ],
+              "location": [
+                {
+                  "line": 5,
+                  "col": 3
+                },
+                {
+                  "line": 5,
+                  "col": 9
+                }
+              ]
+            }
+          ],
+          "location": [
+            {
+              "line": 5,
+              "col": 1
+            },
+            {
+              "line": 5,
+              "col": 11
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      "location": [
+        {
+          "line": 5,
+          "col": 1
+        },
+        {
+          "line": 5,
+          "col": 11
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ],
+  "location": [
+    {
+      "line": 1,
+      "col": 1
+    },
+    {
+      "line": 5,
+      "col": 11
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/inline_tests.rs b/tests/inline_tests.rs
index 0c4a3ba..aae12d6 100644
--- a/tests/inline_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/inline_tests.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,24 @@ fn test_spans_with_chars_between(#[case] markup_char: &str, #[case] variant: &st
     assert_parsed_doc_matches_expected_asg_from_str(&adoc_str, &asg_json_str)
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_spans_inside_spans() {
+    let adoc_str = fs::read_to_string("tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.adoc")
+        .expect("Unable to read asciidoc test template");
+    let asg_json_str = fs::read_to_string("tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans.json")
+        .expect("Unable to read asg json test template");
+    assert_parsed_doc_matches_expected_asg_from_str(&adoc_str, &asg_json_str)
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_spans_inside_spans_mixed() {
+    let adoc_str = fs::read_to_string("tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.adoc")
+        .expect("Unable to read asciidoc test template");
+    let asg_json_str = fs::read_to_string("tests/data/inlines/span-inside-spans-mixed.json")
+        .expect("Unable to read asg json test template");
+    assert_parsed_doc_matches_expected_asg_from_str(&adoc_str, &asg_json_str)
+}
+
 #[rstest]
 #[case::emphasis("_")]
 #[case::strong("*")]