How would you determine if a rope is cut as opposed to ripping in half

This plays a large part in a mystery novel I am writing. But I can't seem to figure it out. How would you tell? Thanks!

a rope is typically made up of many strands. In a cut rope, the strands are alll roughly the same length, and the end will look fairly "clean". In a rope break, there are lots of uneven ends, with lots of unravelling and messiness.

Grandpa

you might think this is difficult to answer , but I am a "frayed knot"

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1305&bih=1136&q=frayed+knot&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g1g-m3&aql=&oq=

Normally, a cut rope wouldn't have many loose strings.