diff --git a/format-master.xml b/format-master.xml
index 438db61..7457df1 100755
--- a/format-master.xml
+++ b/format-master.xml
@@ -2231,7 +2231,7 @@
 	
 	<!-- Any mathematical variable names. -->
 	<template name="math-variable" match="variable|var">
-		<latex>\ensuremath{<xsl:apply-templates/>}</latex>
+		<latex>\ensuremath{\mathit{<xsl:apply-templates/>}}</latex>
 		<html><I><xsl:apply-templates/></I></html>
 	</template>
 	
