CSS code non-functioning once links applied

code faulty links change code

[lindseylicious]

Hopefully this isn't as bizarre as it seems to me right now (it's late, I'm tired, etc..)

So I have all the link styles established in my CSS page, and they are working beautifully on my HTML page.
However, they only work when applied to dummy links that I haven't set up yet.
Once I create the page that the link corresponds to, all attributes applied by my CSS are completely thrown off.
The classes are applied properly on my HTML page, the divs all seem to be in order.... what gives? HELP this is driving me insane!

[cameraman]

Did you define them in the order:
link
visited
hover
active
?
It almost sounds like you have 'visited' last.

[mep00]

link
visited
hover
active

An easy way to remember the order is "LoVe HAte".

[yuval_raz]

and the gEEky way to remmember:
"Lord Vader's Handle Formerly Anakin"