diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/css/html/display.scss b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/css/html/display.scss
index 956923c6d0..93138ac5a9 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/css/html/display.scss
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/css/html/display.scss
@@ -49,10 +49,18 @@ p {
 
 em, i {
   font-style: italic;
+
+  span {
+    font-style: italic;
+  }
 }
 
 strong, b {
   font-weight: bold;
+
+  span {
+    font-weight: bold;
+  }
 }
 
 p + p, ul + p, ol + p {