Traditional theories of the tensile failure of paper have assumed that uniform strain progresses throughout the sheet until an imperfection within the structure causes a catastrophic break. The resistance to tensile elongation is assumed to be elastic , at first, throughout the structure, followed by an overall plastic yield. However, linear image strain analysis (LISA) has demonstrated that the yield in tensile loading of paper is quite non-uniform throughout the structure, Traditional theories have failed to define the flaws that trigger catastrophic failure. It was assumed that a shive or perhaps a low basis weight area filled that role. Studies of the fracture mechanics of paper have typically utilized a well-defined flaw around which yield and failure could be examined . The flaw was a simple razor cut normal to the direction of tensile loading. Such testing is labeled mode I analysis. The included fla in the paper was always normal to the tensile loading direction, never at another orientation . However, shives or low basis weight zones are likely to be at random angular orientations in the sheet. The effects of angular flaws within the tensile test were examined. The strain energy density theory and experimental work demonstrate the change in crack propagation from mode I to mode IIas the initial flaw angle of crack propagation as a function of the initial flaw angle is predicted and experimentally demonstrated.