An editor sits out a formal discourse (12)

I believe the answer is:

dissertation

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'a formal discourse' is the definition.
'dissertation' can be an answer for 'discourse' (thesaurus). I'm not sure about the 'a formal' bit.

'an editor sits out' is the wordplay.
'out' is an anagram indicator (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'an'+'editor'+'sits'='aneditorsits'
'aneditorsits' with letters rearranged gives 'DISSERTATION'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dissertation that I've seen before include "thesis" , "writing" , "Essay for a degree or diploma" , "scholarly work?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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