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In the first picture, you're holding the book upside down. The book is perpendicular to the floor and parallel to your face. I think it is correct to say "you're holding the book upside-down".

But suppose that you do the same thing but this time the book is parallel to the floor and perpendicular to your face.

Is it still correct to say "you're holding the book upside-down, turn it right-side up"?

or maybe "you're holding the book frontside-back, turn it right-side front"?

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  • It doesn't matter, the book is being rotated on the same axis in both scenarios.
    – Sig Sputnik
    Commented Aug 20, 2020 at 18:16

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Upside-down in this context is relative to how your eyes would read it; if you were in microgravity or something, and you were upside down (relative to the observer) and the book were rightside up (relative to the observer), I still think it would be correct (and the least confusing) to say your first sentence. It is upside-down in relation to where it needs to be.

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