I could hear the faint drip of water

[alpacinou]

Is this correct and natural?

Inside the cave, I could only hear a faint drip drip of water in the distance.

 

[teechar]

Is the repetition of "drip" intentional?

 

[alpacinou]

Is the repetition of "drip" intentional?

Yes. But if it doesn't work, I can omit it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yet again, you have used different words in your title from those in your piece.

Title: I could hear the faint drip of water
Piece: I could only hear a faint drip drip of water

You're clearly having trouble with this. I suggest you write the main body of your text first, then copy and paste the relevant section of text into the title box. That way, you'll be certain they are identical.

 

[teechar]

Yes. But if it doesn't work, I can omit it.

Yes, use only one, unless that drip is especially important to the context.

 

[Tarheel]

The original is okay, but I would omit only and throw in another drip (See below.)

In the distance I could hear a faint drip drip drip of water.

(Sometimes repetition is the point. Or at any rate it's used to make another point.)