Question regarding notation for semidirect product

Question

When you say that

$G$ is a semidirect product of (a cyclic group of prime order) by (a finite abelian group of odd order)

does that imply the direction of the symbol for semidirect product (which will enable us to identify the normal subgroup)?

Answer 1

There is no widely accepted convention. It is better to specify it, for instance by saying "$G$ is a semi-direct product of $\ldots$ acting on $\ldots$", or by writing down explicitly $G\simeq H\rtimes K$ after defining $H$ and $K$.