Final answer:
Tim's use of 'I before E except after C' is an application of the I-Before-E Rule, which aids in spelling words with the long e sound, with several noted exceptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tim's self-reminder while attempting to spell 'receive' shows the use of the I-Before-E Rule, which is a mnemonic device to help with spelling. The basic rule states that it's 'i before e' except after 'c' when spelling a word with a long e sound like in 'receive'. However, there are exceptions such as when spelling long a sounds, like in 'neighbor' and 'weigh', or when spelling long i at the end of free stems, it is 'i before e'. But generally for long i sounds elsewhere, it's 'e before i'.
The rule also applies when a word stems ending in a consonant plus y changes to ie when a suffix starting with e is added, which often spells the long e sound. The I-Before-E Rule is handy but it's also important to remember its limitations and exceptions.