A sysadmin was summoned to explain why text appeared in italics to a lawyer who had at least two advanced degrees, according to a reader contribution to The Register’s On Call column.

The column publishes reader‑submitted tech support anecdotes each Friday and features stories from professionals across industries.

Darwin, who previously worked as a system administrator for a law firm that serves financial clients, was updating a computer when a secretary called to request immediate assistance with an Outlook issue.

The lawyer asked why the letters were slanted. Darwin explained that the slant resulted from the italics formatting option. He noted that the lawyer became upset and asked how the effect was produced.

After the explanation, the secretary was observed laughing.

The story illustrates a common misunderstanding between users and technical staff, and it remains unclear whether the reaction was typical or isolated.