"if so" or "if yes" which one is correct?

Question

Is there any difference between "if so" and "if yes"? Is "if yes" correct? Sounds like native speakers never use "if yes".

An example of "if yes":

Since the announcement of STM32L4 MCUs on last September, more than 45 specific training modules are available online. Did you got the opportunity to watch some of them? If yes, we will be thankful to know your feedback on this offer.

Answer 1

It's certainly true that "if yes" is a lot less common than "if so". But it's not so much that it's wrong, as that it implies things a bit differently and is therefore rarer.

From that ngram graph we can also see that, while putting "if so" in the middle of a sentence is almost as common as putting it at the beginning, "if yes" is very nearly always at the beginning. This points, again, to the difference in usage.

Basically, "if yes" only works if there's a question that is obviously answerable only with yes or no, and even there it's not necessarily preferred. In contrast, "if so" works even if there's no explicit question, or if it's a bit fuzzier. Examples where "if yes" is dubious or wrong:

^OK Did you get the email I sent? If so, make sure to send the form along before the deadline.
^? Did you get the email I sent? If yes, make sure to send the form along before the deadline.
^OK I wanted to check if you got the email I sent; if so, make sure to send the form along before the deadline.
^* I wanted to check if you got the email I sent; if yes, make sure to send the form along before the deadline.

Example where "if yes" is fine:

^OK Are you legally blind? If so, fill out form XYZ-B and attach it.
^OK Are you legally blind? If yes, fill out form XYZ-B and attach it.

Unfortunately, the particular example you give is ungrammatical or unnatural in several ways:

Since the announcement of STM32L4 MCUs on last September, more than 45 specific training modules are available online. Did you got get the opportunity to watch some of them? If yes, we will would be thankful grateful to know receive your feedback on this offer.

"If yes" isn't actually wrong here, but it's not really ideal, since someone might have watched part of one, might be about to watch one, might have watched several, might have watched all of them…. So "yes"/"no" aren't exactly the only answers, and in this case, going with the fuzzier logic of "if so" works better.

Answer 2

"If so" means "If this is the case"

"If yes" literally means "If 'yes'"

I might have a good phone signal at the cabin. If so, I'll give you a call when I get there.

Is there a better phone signal over there? If yes, then I'll quickly call my friend.

I wasn't sure if you two were a couple. If so, feel free to push your beds together.

Do you think you'll need the washing machine? If yes, then the detergent is in that cupboard.

"If yes" only appears after yes/no questions, and refers to the answer of that question.

As an aside, you could use "if so" in these situations quite comfortably instead.