It's suppsed to go like this

Tote bag handle length is not standardized. Get a different one

You slid it over one shoulder, not like a messenger bag, and hold it there with one hand as you walk.

It's light and fit in a pocket/purse, so you can go shopping without carrying a heavier bag. But indeed, some have weird handles

Get one where the handles aren't so long that it scratches the ground and ... problem solved?

Loop the handle around the back of your wrist to shorten them.

You can double up the handles, which also spreads the load a bit so they don’t cut into your hand as much. It is mainly for compactness and easy marketing

It is all about where your hands fall on your body, and it sounds like you are just an ankle holster person. Maybe tie some knots in the handles or use a clip to shorten them so the bottom doesn't drag.

Could you provide an example image of the sort of tote bag you're mildly confused by?

When you carry it by the handle it’s so long that it may scratch the ground

Always assumed that's a short person problem. Source: Am short, same thing happens to me.

Maybe there's a better way to deal with that but what I usually do is add a knot to each handle so the handles are shorter, that way the bags are higher from the ground.

That's when using re-usable grocery bags/totes with long handles.

IDK what kind of tote bags you have but I've never had any where the handles are super long. They're just slightly longer than the handles on the paper or plastic bags you're replacing with the tote, which just allows a bit more room to hold the handles if some items in the bag end up being a little too tall.

Totes drive me crazy, too. I have had better luck with messenger bags with adjustable straps. They come in many sizes, shapes, colors, materials, etc.

Wow. I guess either I am tall or the handles on my tote bags are shorter. They have short handles AND are scratching the ground? How big are these bags, or how short are you?