<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> span { color: green } :checked + span { color: red } input { display: none } </style> <body onload='document.getElementById("foo").removeAttribute("checked"); document.getElementById("bar").removeAttribute("checked");'> <input type="checkbox" checked="checked" id="foo"><span>There should be no red</span> <input type="radio" checked="checked" id="bar"><span>There should be no red</span> </body> </html>