Here's why:
* Clarity: The hyphen helps distinguish it from "counter" and "proposal" used separately.
* Consistency: Most style guides and dictionaries recommend hyphenating compound nouns where the first element modifies the second, especially when it's a prefix like "counter-."
Examples:
* "We received a counter-proposal to their initial offer."
* "The counter-proposal included a different timeline for completion."
However, there are exceptions:
* Common usage: If the compound noun is very common and widely used without a hyphen, you can follow that convention.
* Context: In some cases, the context might make a hyphen unnecessary. For instance, if you're writing "We are considering a counter proposal," the lack of hyphenation might be acceptable due to the presence of the word "counter" before "proposal."
Bottom line: It's best to hyphenate "counter-proposal" to ensure clarity and consistency, but be aware of possible exceptions based on common usage and context.