diff --git a/MiniZincIDE/highlighter.cpp b/MiniZincIDE/highlighter.cpp
index c256534..7aeb3c4 100644
--- a/MiniZincIDE/highlighter.cpp
+++ b/MiniZincIDE/highlighter.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ void Highlighter::highlightBlock(const QString &text)
 
     QTextCharFormat stringFormat;
     stringFormat.setForeground(stringColor);
+    stringFormat.setFontItalic(true);
     QTextCharFormat interpolateFormat;
     interpolateFormat.setFontItalic(true);