MinnFlyer,
Actually, there is more to it than "a more proper" way. That sounds like the quick and dirty ways won't bind the servo. chuckle.....

Anytime you don't have all the hinges on the same axis, you're screwing up the freedom of movement for the surface.

Back when most people flew Control Line because RC wasn't even around, most of the beginner kits had bent steel torque rods and the surfaces were hinged with alternating strips of cloth and a TON of beginners would wind up with exactly what's being suggested as a quick and dirty "fix". Until the steel torque rods caused the other hinges to fail, those beginners had lousy flying models. The controls would not want to stay at neutral. The flaps would want to either be full up or full down. The torque rod would be trying to rotate the front of the flaps right where the hinges there were trying to keep that part from moving. And the surface would wind up wanting to stick up or down but really, really did not want to be at neutral. And you can bet the farm that surface had no freedom of movement. Alternating hinging was about the most resistance free hinging you can imagine, but when you fought it with a steel torque rod that was off the centerline by 1/8" there wasn't any freedom anywhere.

Today, we don't feel any of the forces the servos are going to have to fight. And the model won't be kept from flying. But there is a reason that most every building manual worth reading says to make sure you keep all the hinges on the same line.

But whatever.... all the suggestions will "work". For how long, and how well is up to the builder.