When I was growing up and woven fabric was generally all that was available it was always ripped. Remember the little machines on the edge of the counter at the store that the clerk ran the edge of the fabric through to measure it and then when they got to the correct measurement pushed down the lever which snipped the edge of the fabric so they could then rip it?
My mother was an wonderful seamstress and paid close attention to grain of fabric so garments hung correctly. When she got fabric home she would examine how the threads in the fabric ran and also hold up the fabric by the fold and look at the torn ends which were torn with the grain. If they were askew then she would take two opposite corners of the fabric (across the bias) give one to me and she would take the other and we would stretch the fabric back into square. Worked every time.
Wide backings are difficult to roll on the bolt and if they are cut then they are going to be off because they are no rolled on the bolt with the true grain. I would only buy wide cotton quilt weight fabric that has been torn so I know I'm getting the amount I need. I go to one quilt shop where they measure all the fabric with a yard stick, add a smidgen more and then tear the fabric. I always know there I'm getting usable amount of fabric that I requested and paid for. When I get home I fold it with the ripped grain matching and cut away the torn edge to start measuring for my pieces.