diff --git a/sass/base/_base.scss b/sass/base/_base.scss
index fd3f7774f7..3f985ea666 100644
--- a/sass/base/_base.scss
+++ b/sass/base/_base.scss
@@ -61,8 +61,13 @@ a {
     text-decoration:none;
   }
 
+  p &, li > &, span > &, .inline {
+    border-bottom: 1px solid #bbb;
+    font-style: italic;
+  }
+
   &:hover, &:focus {
-    text-decoration:underline;
+    color: #000;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/sass/base/_extends.scss b/sass/base/_extends.scss
index 4275a1cf67..aa9e4e65dc 100644
--- a/sass/base/_extends.scss
+++ b/sass/base/_extends.scss
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ h1.top-header {
    text-transform: none;
   }
 
+  a {
+    font-style: normal;
+    border: none;
+  }
+
   .bottom-border {
     @include box-shadow(0 1px 0 #eee);
     border-bottom: 1px solid #d3d3d3;
@@ -180,6 +185,7 @@ h1.top-header {
   }
 
   a {
+    border-bottom: 0;
     color: darken($cream, 80%);
 
     &:hover {
diff --git a/sass/courseware/_sequence-nav.scss b/sass/courseware/_sequence-nav.scss
index 96e25be874..056311521e 100644
--- a/sass/courseware/_sequence-nav.scss
+++ b/sass/courseware/_sequence-nav.scss
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ section.course-content {
 
     ul {
       @extend .clearfix;
+      background-color: darken(#F6EFD4, 5%);
       border: 1px solid darken(#f6efd4, 20%);
       border-bottom: 0;
       @include border-radius(3px 3px 0 0);
@@ -254,6 +255,8 @@ section.course-content {
           a {
             background-position: center center;
             background-repeat: no-repeat;
+            border-bottom: none;
+            display: block;
             padding: lh(.75) 4px;
             text-indent: -9999px;
             width: 45px;
@@ -261,16 +264,16 @@ section.course-content {
             @include transition(all, .4s, $ease-in-out-quad);
 
             &:hover {
-              text-decoration: none;
-              color: darken($cream, 60%);
-              text-decoration: none;
-              opacity: .5;
               background-color: darken($cream, 10%);
+              color: darken(#F6EFD4, 60%);
+              color: darken($cream, 60%);
+              opacity: .5;
+              text-decoration: none;
             }
 
             &.disabled {
-              opacity: .4;
               background-color: lighten($cream, 10%);
+              opacity: .4;
             }
           }
         }
diff --git a/sass/courseware/_video.scss b/sass/courseware/_video.scss
index 2904ba44b9..7fbb4c577d 100644
--- a/sass/courseware/_video.scss
+++ b/sass/courseware/_video.scss
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ section.course-content {
 
             a {
               @include box-shadow(1px 0 0 #555);
+              border-bottom: none;
               border-right: 1px solid #000;
               display: block;
               cursor: pointer;
diff --git a/sass/discussion/_answers.scss b/sass/discussion/_answers.scss
index e311c17406..cc6133a12f 100644
--- a/sass/discussion/_answers.scss
+++ b/sass/discussion/_answers.scss
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ div.paginator {
     a {
       color: #555;
       text-decoration: none;
+      border-bottom: none;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/sass/discussion/_question-view.scss b/sass/discussion/_question-view.scss
index fb1d2d618f..a5e44d355b 100644
--- a/sass/discussion/_question-view.scss
+++ b/sass/discussion/_question-view.scss
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ div.question-header {
       overflow: hidden;
       padding: 5px 0 10px;
 
-
       div.tag-list {
         display: inline-block;
         float:left;
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ div.question-header {
         width: flex-grid(4,8);
 
         a {
-
           &.question-delete {
             color: $mit-red;
             text-decoration: none;
@@ -122,6 +120,11 @@ div.question-header {
         width: 20%;
         border-left: 1px dashed #ddd;
 
+        a {
+          border-bottom: none;
+          font-style: normal;
+        }
+
         div.post-update-info {
           @include box-sizing(border-box);
           padding: 10px;
@@ -140,10 +143,6 @@ div.question-header {
             }
           }
 
-          a {
-            color:$mit-red ;
-          }
-
           div.change-date {
             font-size: 12px;
             margin-bottom: 2px;
@@ -327,6 +326,7 @@ div.question-header {
       div.controls {
         border-top: 1px solid #efefef;
         text-align: right;
+
         a {
           display: inline-block;
           font-size: 12px;
diff --git a/sass/discussion/_tags.scss b/sass/discussion/_tags.scss
index d8ea2e6c09..72c4e9ffc4 100644
--- a/sass/discussion/_tags.scss
+++ b/sass/discussion/_tags.scss
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ ul.tags {
     a {
       color: #555;
       text-decoration: none;
+      border-bottom: none;
+      font-style: normal;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/sass/layout/_footer.scss b/sass/layout/_footer.scss
index eb4786dd83..1669946a60 100644
--- a/sass/layout/_footer.scss
+++ b/sass/layout/_footer.scss
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ footer {
             height: 29px;
             width: 28px;
             text-indent: -9999px;
+            border-bottom: 0;
 
             &:hover {
               opacity: .8;
diff --git a/sass/layout/_header.scss b/sass/layout/_header.scss
index 9851339ac4..1d88eac639 100644
--- a/sass/layout/_header.scss
+++ b/sass/layout/_header.scss
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ div.header-wrapper {
 
         a {
           color: #fff;
-          text-decoration: none;
+          border: none;
 
           &:hover {
             color: rgba(#fff, .7);
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ div.header-wrapper {
             display: block;
             font-weight: bold;
             padding: 10px lh() 8px;
-            text-decoration: none;
+            border: none;
+            font-style: normal;
 
             @media screen and (max-width: 1020px) {
               padding: 10px lh(.7) 8px;