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〜ことになる and 〜ことにする both express that something has been decided on however the former can be used when factors outside of the speaker’s control made the decision, whilst the latter can be used when the speaker made the decision.
They have similar grammar constructions but are subtly different in meaning.
How to remember the difference
You can easily remember when to use each grammar point correctly by thinking about the ending verbs 〜になる (to become) and 〜にする (to do).
If we think about the decision ‘becoming’ being made, we understand that we the speaker didn’t decide, something else did
If we think about ‘doing’ the decision making, we understand that we the speaker are making the decision.
〜ことになる has the nuance of something has been decided, using the なる ‘to become’ verb.
It has the added nuance that outside factors relating to the speaker caused the something to have been decided
〜ことにする has the nuance of ‘to decide on something’, using the する ‘to do’ verb.
It has the added nuance that the speaker made an action that resulted on the something to have been decided
Here are examples of the 2 grammar points:
〜ことになる・It has been decided
JLPT N4
大阪に転勤することになりました。
おおさかにてんしょくすることになりました。
It’s been decided that I’ll be transferring to Osaka for work. (This was decided by someone that’s not the speaker)
〜ことにする・To decide on
JLPT N4
夏休みに友達と沖縄に旅行することにします。
なつやすみにともだちとおきなわにりょこうすることにします。
I’ve decided to go to Okinawa over summer break with my friends. (The speaker made this decision)
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