diff --git a/src/plugins/extra/syntect.rs b/src/plugins/extra/syntect.rs
index 5014491..b7cab67 100644
--- a/src/plugins/extra/syntect.rs
+++ b/src/plugins/extra/syntect.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 //! Syntax highlighting for code blocks
 use syntect::highlighting::ThemeSet;
-use syntect::html::highlighted_html_for_string;
+pub use syntect::html::ClassStyle;
+use syntect::html::{highlighted_html_for_string, ClassedHTMLGenerator};
 use syntect::parsing::SyntaxSet;
+use syntect::util::LinesWithEndings;
 
 use crate::parser::core::CoreRule;
 use crate::parser::extset::MarkdownItExt;
@@ -21,12 +23,20 @@ impl NodeValue for SyntectSnippet {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
-struct SyntectSettings(&'static str);
+enum SyntectMode {
+    InlineStyles { theme: &'static str },
+    CssClasses { class_style: ClassStyle },
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+struct SyntectSettings(SyntectMode);
 impl MarkdownItExt for SyntectSettings {}
 
 impl Default for SyntectSettings {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Self("InspiredGitHub")
+        Self(SyntectMode::InlineStyles {
+            theme: "InspiredGitHub",
+        })
     }
 }
 
@@ -34,8 +44,18 @@ pub fn add(md: &mut MarkdownIt) {
     md.add_rule::<SyntectRule>();
 }
 
+/// Use inline styles with the given theme
 pub fn set_theme(md: &mut MarkdownIt, theme: &'static str) {
-    md.ext.insert(SyntectSettings(theme));
+    md.ext
+        .insert(SyntectSettings(SyntectMode::InlineStyles { theme }));
+}
+
+/// Generate spans with css classes applied
+///
+/// This is an alternative to using a theme. You are responsible for including a style sheet.
+pub fn use_css_classes(md: &mut MarkdownIt, class_style: ClassStyle) {
+    md.ext
+        .insert(SyntectSettings(SyntectMode::CssClasses { class_style }));
 }
 
 pub struct SyntectRule;
@@ -43,7 +63,12 @@ impl CoreRule for SyntectRule {
     fn run(root: &mut Node, md: &MarkdownIt) {
         let ss = SyntaxSet::load_defaults_newlines();
         let ts = ThemeSet::load_defaults();
-        let theme = &ts.themes[md.ext.get::<SyntectSettings>().copied().unwrap_or_default().0];
+        let mode = md
+            .ext
+            .get::<SyntectSettings>()
+            .copied()
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .0;
 
         root.walk_mut(|node, _| {
             let mut content = None;
@@ -63,7 +88,23 @@ impl CoreRule for SyntectRule {
                 }
                 let syntax = syntax.unwrap_or_else(|| ss.find_syntax_plain_text());
 
-                let html = highlighted_html_for_string(content, &ss, syntax, theme);
+                let html = match mode {
+                    SyntectMode::InlineStyles { theme } => {
+                        highlighted_html_for_string(content, &ss, syntax, &ts.themes[theme])
+                    }
+                    SyntectMode::CssClasses { class_style } => {
+                        let mut html_generator =
+                            ClassedHTMLGenerator::new_with_class_style(syntax, &ss, class_style);
+                        for line in LinesWithEndings::from(content) {
+                            if let Err(_) =
+                                html_generator.parse_html_for_line_which_includes_newline(line)
+                            {
+                                return;
+                            };
+                        }
+                        Ok(html_generator.finalize())
+                    }
+                };
 
                 if let Ok(html) = html {
                     node.replace(SyntectSnippet { html });