diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index d7bd780..2f71cad 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -48,17 +48,17 @@ def abstract_inline_conversion(markup_fn):
     references to self.strong_em_symbol etc.
     """
     def implementation(self, el, text, convert_as_inline):
-        markup = markup_fn(self)
-        if markup.startswith('<') and markup.endswith('>'):
-            markup_after = '</' + markup[1:]
+        markup_prefix = markup_fn(self)
+        if markup_prefix.startswith('<') and markup_prefix.endswith('>'):
+            markup_suffix = '</' + markup_prefix[1:]
         else:
-            markup_after = markup
+            markup_suffix = markup_prefix
         if el.find_parent(['pre', 'code', 'kbd', 'samp']):
             return text
         prefix, suffix, text = chomp(text)
         if not text:
             return ''
-        return '%s%s%s%s%s' % (prefix, markup, text, markup_after, suffix)
+        return '%s%s%s%s%s' % (prefix, markup_prefix, text, markup_suffix, suffix)
     return implementation