The phrase "a surface reading" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in literary analysis or criticism to refer to an interpretation of a text that focuses on its literal meaning without delving into deeper or more complex interpretations.
Example: "While a surface reading of the poem reveals its straightforward narrative, a deeper analysis uncovers themes of loss and longing."
Alternatives: "a literal interpretation" or "a basic reading".
But this contention results from a surface reading of the act, and misses the true basis upon which it rests.
A surface reading of her said "vanilla" — or maybe, given the air of Southern graciousness passed down from her mother, "butter pecan" — but nothing more complicated than that.
It is possible, from a surface reading of the facts, that Keane is delusional, that there is no lost daughter - either a genuine tragedy has driven him to madness, or madness has caused him to imagine a tragedy.
But there are passages in Descartes' corpus that make a surface reading of the Fourth Meditation problematic.
Briefly, and this is from a surface reading of my time spent staring blankly into monitors this fine morning in the San Francisco fog, Wheeler is either single-handedly destroying the engine that leads to dynamic innovation online, or he is, in fact, the only thing standing between said innovation and rapacious corporations.
Jesus, Funk said, was "one of the great sages of history," but he was not the man portrayed in a surface reading of the New Testament.
I spend a lot of time looking at how light works to make a surface read well: concrete must have texture, steel must look robust, and glass must be clear.
But when "one" or "a" itself is used to indicate an A in an answer, it helps the setter construct a clue with a natural surface reading.
Here the writer has impressively linked no fewer than seven different definitions of PRISON in a sentence that has a sound surface reading.
But the novels don't let you get away with a narcissistic surface reading.
It must have been tempting, as many did, to go for the AS TITCH INTIME split, but few managed to link cryptic and definition parts effectively while preserving a convincing surface reading.
