<!DOCTYPE html>
<style>
.pad { padding-top: 0.5px; }
</style>
<div>The two letters below should sit on the same baseline.</div>
x<span style="display: inline-block">
<div class=pad>
<div class=pad>
<div class=pad>
<div class=pad>
<div class=pad>
<div class=pad>
x
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</span>