The　effects　of　neglecting　deviation　from　pure　shear　in　the　end　regions　were　evaluated　using　non-linear　finite　element　analysis.　The　results　show　that　the　deformation　in　the　centre　is　close　to　pure　shear　while　in　regions　near　the　free　edges　is　complex.　Moreover,　the　size　of　the　region　affected　by　the　free　edge　decreases　with　strain.　Calculations　of　tearing　energy　were　made　for　a　rubber　pure　shear　specimen　with　a　central　crack　or　an　edge　crack　in　the　specimen.　Finite　element　analysis　results　for　the　tearing　energy　agree　with　the　previous　solution　for　both　long　central　and　edge　cracks.　However,　there　still　exist　some　discrepancies　for　short　cracks.　For　short　central　cracks　the　tearing　energy　is　linearly　dependent　on　the　crack　length　as　predicted.　But　the　slope　of　line　is　a　decreasing　function　of　strain,　which　is　disagreement　with　previous　constant　slope.　For　short　edge　cracks　the　tearing　energy　also　shows　an　approximately　linear　dependence　on　crack　length.　But　the　slope　of　the　line　increases　with　increasing　strain　at　first　and　then　reaches　a　maximum　value,　followed　by　a　decrease　with　increasing　strain.　For　different　materials,　the　whole　dependences　of　the　tearing　energy　on　crack　lengths　are　similar.