JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
    <li><a href="#"><span>Menu</span></a></li>
    <li><a href="#"><span>Menu</span></a></li>
    <li><a href="#"><span>Menu</span></a></li>
    <li><a href="#"><span>Menu</span></a></li>
    <li><a href="#"><span>Menu</span></a></li>
</ul>

CSS

ul {
    height: 20px;
}

ul li {
    float: left;
    padding-left: 10px;
    padding-right: 10 0;
}

ul li:first-child {
    padding-left: 0px;
}

ul li:last-child {
    padding-right: 0px;
}


ul li a {
    display: block;
    text-decoration: none;
    height: 20px;
    line-height: 20px;
    color: red;
}

ul li a:hover {
    color: #fff;
    background: green;
}