diff --git a/doc/org.txt b/doc/org.txt
index 80cc572..bd74797 100644
--- a/doc/org.txt
+++ b/doc/org.txt
@@ -152,22 +152,21 @@ an |autocmd| like so.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      *'b:org_use_italics'*  *'g:org_use_italics'*
 Value: numeric~
-Default: 0~
+Default: 1~
 
 Display italic org-mode markup (e.g. `/this is italic org-mode markup/`) using
 the italic variant of your font.
 
-Note: this option is disabled by default because some terminals and monospaced
-fonts don't support the use of italics.
+As some terminals, terminal multiplexers and monospaced fonts don't support
+the use of italics, org.vim provides a mechanism to disable italic text.
 
-To enable this feature in all Org mode files place the following line in your
-vimrc:
+To disable for all Org mode files place the following line in your vimrc:
 >
-    let g:org_use_italics = 1
+    let g:org_use_italics = 0
 <
-To enable italics only in a single buffer, use this instead:
+To disable italics only in a single buffer, use this instead:
 >
-    let b:org_use_italics = 1
+    let b:org_use_italics = 0
 <
 ==============================================================================
  5. LEGAL                                                           *org-legal*
diff --git a/syntax/org.vim b/syntax/org.vim
index ea5ceb2..7aaf307 100644
--- a/syntax/org.vim
+++ b/syntax/org.vim
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ syntax region orgBold          matchgroup=orgBoldDelimiter          start="\*\S\
 syntax region orgUnderline     matchgroup=orgUnderlineDelimiter     start="_\S\@=_\@!"   end="\S\@<=_\@<!_"   keepend contains=@Spell
 syntax region orgStrikethrough matchgroup=orgStrikethroughDelimiter start="+\S\@=+\@!"   end="\S\@<=+\@<!+"   keepend contains=@Spell
 
-if org#option('org_use_italics', 0)
+if org#option('org_use_italics', 1)
     highlight def orgItalic term=italic cterm=italic gui=italic
 else
     highlight def orgItalic term=none cterm=none gui=none