Fig. 1.

Illustrative examples of competing conventions in our dataset [relative (Rel.) frequencies]. (A) Formal institution: the spelling of the Spanish word “quando” (when) was changed into “cuando” by a RAE reform in 1811. (B) Unregulated evolution of two equivalent forms for the past subjunctive, -ra and -se, for the verb “colgar” (to hang). (C) Informal institution: the American Spelling “center” vs. the British spelling “centre.” (D) Unregulated evolution of “garbage,” the American variant of the British “rubbish.”