diff --git a/doc/zenbones.md b/doc/zenbones.md
index f757489..1eb6e3e 100644
--- a/doc/zenbones.md
+++ b/doc/zenbones.md
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ the flavor name e.g. `g:rosebones_italic_comments`.
 | darken_noncurrent_window           | light      | `false` | Make non-current window background darker than _Normal_.                  |
 | lighten_noncurrent_window          | dark       | `false` | Make non-current window background lighter than _Normal_.                 |
 | italic_comments                    | both       | `true`  | Make comments italicize.                                                  |
+| italic_strings                     | both       | `true`  | Make strings italicize.                                                   |
 | darken_comments                    | light      | `38`    | Percentage to darken comments relative to Normal bg.                      |
 | lighten_comments                   | dark       | `38`    | Percentage to lighten comments relative to Normal bg.                     |
 | darken_non_text                    | light      | `25`    | Percentage to darken \|hl-NonText\| relative to Normal bg.                |
diff --git a/lua/zenbones/specs/dark.lua b/lua/zenbones/specs/dark.lua
index cca2c23..bdef955 100644
--- a/lua/zenbones/specs/dark.lua
+++ b/lua/zenbones/specs/dark.lua
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ local function generate(p, opt)
 			-- Uncomment and edit if you want more specific syntax highlighting.
 
 			Constant        { fg = p1.fg4, gui = "italic" }, -- (preferred) any constant
-			String          { Constant }, --   a string constant: "this is a string"
+			String          { fg = p1.fg4, gui = opt.italic_strings ~= false and "italic" or "NONE"  }, --   a string constant: "this is a string"
 			Character       { Constant }, --  a character constant: 'c', '\n'
 			Number          { fg = p1.fg4 }, --   a number constant: 234, 0xff
 			Boolean         { fg = p.fg, gui = "italic" }, --  a boolean constant: TRUE, false
diff --git a/lua/zenbones/specs/init.lua b/lua/zenbones/specs/init.lua
index 3dcd5ec..0398b42 100644
--- a/lua/zenbones/specs/init.lua
+++ b/lua/zenbones/specs/init.lua
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ function M.get_global_config(prefix, base_bg)
 		"solid_line_nr",
 		"colorize_diagnostic_underline_text",
 		"italic_comments",
+		"italic_strings",
 		"transparent_background",
 	})
 
diff --git a/lua/zenbones/specs/light.lua b/lua/zenbones/specs/light.lua
index cb77f2b..2415565 100644
--- a/lua/zenbones/specs/light.lua
+++ b/lua/zenbones/specs/light.lua
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ local function generate(p, opt)
 			-- Uncomment and edit if you want more specific syntax highlighting.
 
 			Constant        { fg = p1.fg4, gui = "italic" }, -- (preferred) any constant
-			String          { Constant }, --   a string constant: "this is a string"
+			String          { fg = p1.fg4, gui = opt.italic_strings ~= false and "italic" or "NONE"  }, --   a string constant: "this is a string"
 			Character       { Constant }, --  a character constant: 'c', '\n'
 			Number          { fg = p1.fg4 }, --   a number constant: 234, 0xff
 			Boolean         { fg = p.fg, gui = "italic" }, --  a boolean constant: TRUE, false