diff --git a/cms/static/sass/elements/_xmodules.scss b/cms/static/sass/elements/_xmodules.scss
index 576fd9549b5506d42bc1c5fad0549ceeab2e0c8a..8ffccfef2da8fa8aeb654942e31104407b7a72b3 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/elements/_xmodules.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/elements/_xmodules.scss
@@ -1,4 +1,15 @@
-// studio - elements - xmodules
+// studio - elements - xmodules & xblocks
+// ====================
+
+// general - display mode (xblock-student_view or xmodule_display)
+.xmodule_display, .xblock-student_view {
+
+  // font styling
+  i, em {
+    font-style: italic;
+  }
+}
+
 // ====================
 
 // Video Alpha