Can "albeit" be used to reference something plural?

Question

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Definition of “albeit” and how it's different from “although” (if it is)
Why don’t other pronouns get to albe-themselves, à la albeit’s “it”?

Albeit is defined as a way to express the phrase "although it be." But is it correct to use it to express "although they be"? E.g.

Their techniques were effective, albeit harsh.

Would this be acceptable?

In the example sentence I would replace albeit with although: "Their techniques were effective, although harsh." — Dan D., May 06 '12 at 03:58
You could replace with "although", but I think "albeit" is a little more emphatic. From that point of view they're not 100% synonymous (though of course no "synonyms" really are). — Neil Coffey, May 06 '12 at 04:29
I doubt that speakers of English today think of "albeit" as being a form of "although it be", which is [now] essentially ungrammatical, but rather they simply treat it as a fixed form. Or put another way: your sentence is fine. — Neil Coffey, May 06 '12 at 04:33
Besides Definition of albeit and how its different from although if it is, see What's the origin of the word albeit?, and Usage of commas with albeit, and aforementioned Why dont other pronouns get to albe themselves a la albeits it, — James Waldby - jwpat7, May 06 '12 at 05:09
I asked a question about "albeit" about a week back, Why don’t other pronouns get to albe-themselves, à la albeit’s “it”?, and got some interesting ansewers. Check out the info that was posted re: albeit's reference to the "Dummy It". — alex gray, May 06 '12 at 05:19

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered May 06 '12 at 04:00

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Perfectly fine, though “albeit” is not conversational style. Remember that the word is an adverb, not a verbal phrase or anything like that. Its presumed history does not enter into the way it’s used.

answered May 06 '12 at 04:00

Lubin

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Actually it's precisely its history that enters into the way it's used. Both you and the OP just presume the wrong history. The "it" in albeit does not refer back to the preceding noun. Much rather, it's the dummy it, like the one in "it's raining outside". Just like people would never say "they are raining outside", they also wouldn't say "although be they that". – RegDwigнt May 06 '12 at 10:38
That, and it isn't an adverb. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica May 06 '12 at 10:40

Can "albeit" be used to reference something plural?

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