Hal's admissions interview — "Surely by incredible you meant very…"
‘Surely by incredible you meant very very very impressive, as opposed to literally quote “incredible,” surely,’ says C.T.
Context
Tavis, cornered about Hal's "frankly incredible" transcript, reflexively polices the Dean's literal usage instead of answering the charge. Pedantry as a family evasive maneuver — the Incandenza house style deployed in the worst possible room for it.